Every oven is different: recipes state temperatures for conventional top-and-bottom heat, but your oven is a fan oven – or vice versa. Older recipes give gas marks. Choosing the wrong setting risks burnt outsides with a raw centre. Our calculator converts all baking temperatures accurately.
Step by Step: How to Use the Oven Temperature Converter
- Select the heating mode: Conventional (top/bottom heat), fan/convection or gas mark.
- Enter the temperature or mark: For example 200°C on conventional heat.
- Select the target mode: For example fan/convection.
- Result: 200°C conventional → 180°C fan (fan is more efficient: −15 to −20°C).
- Adjust baking time: Fan ovens bake faster and more evenly. Reduce baking time by approximately 10–15% compared to conventional heat.
Practical Examples
Yeast cake from an old recipe "Gas Mark 5": Gas Mark 5 = approx. 190°C (conventional) = approx. 170°C fan.
Pizza at 230°C fan: Equivalent on conventional heat: 250°C. Preheating a baking stone is recommended for a crispy base.
Baking bread at 250°C with steam (conventional heat): Fan equivalent: 230°C, but steam is retained better with conventional heat. Bread needs moisture in the first phase of baking to form a good crust – avoid fan mode for the first half of the bake.
Oven Temperature Conversion Table
| Gas Mark | Conventional | Fan |
| 1 | 140°C | 120°C |
| 2 | 160°C | 140°C |
| 3 | 180°C | 160°C |
| 4 | 200°C | 180°C |
| 5 | 220°C | 200°C |
| 6 | 240°C | 220°C |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does a fan oven feel hotter than the set temperature?
A fan oven circulates hot air with a built-in fan, which transfers heat to the food more efficiently. This makes 175°C fan feel like about 190°C on conventional heat. Rule of thumb: reduce by 20°C when switching to fan.
Which heating mode is best for which baked goods?
Fan: pizza, multiple trays at once, crispy biscuits, roast chicken. Conventional: yeast cakes, sponge, cream cakes (sensitive to drying out), bread (with steam). Bottom heat alone: pre-baking tart bases.
How do I convert Fahrenheit oven temperatures?
°F = °C × 1.8 + 32. 180°C = 356°F ≈ 350°F (rounded to the common US value). 200°C = 392°F ≈ 400°F. Use the temperature converter for precise values.
