Per Degree Celsius (°C⁻¹)
Per degree Celsius (1/°C) is numerically identical to per kelvin, because Celsius and kelvin degrees are the same size. Engineering handbooks often quote α in 1/°C.
Symbol: °C⁻¹ (ASCII: 1/°C)
Quantity: coefficient of thermal expansion (α, CTE)
SI relation: 1 °C⁻¹ = 1 K⁻¹ (exact)
Derivation: 1/°C = 1/K, because a temperature difference of 1 °C equals 1 K
Exact: yes, by definition
Same quantity as per kelvin (K⁻¹) : the factor between them is exactly 1.
Typical uses
- Engineering handbooks and material tables
- Pipe and rail expansion calculations
Convert per degree Celsius to other units
| Conversion | 1 °C⁻¹ equals | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| per degree Celsius to per kelvin | 1 K⁻¹ | per kelvin to per degree Celsius |
| per degree Celsius to ppm per kelvin | 1000000 ppm/K | ppm per kelvin to per degree Celsius |
| per degree Celsius to per degree Fahrenheit | 0.5555555556 °F⁻¹ | per degree Fahrenheit to per degree Celsius |
| per degree Celsius to ppm per degree Fahrenheit | 555555.5556 ppm/°F | ppm per degree Fahrenheit to per degree Celsius |
Open the Thermal Expansion Coefficient Converter to convert any value between all units.
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Table 4, degree Celsius.
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Per Degree Celsius (°C⁻¹). Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/units/per-degree-celsius/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Per Degree Celsius (°C⁻¹)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/units/per-degree-celsius/