Gas Mark Conversion Chart: Gas Mark to °C and °F
Gas mark 4 equals 180 °C or 350 °F, the standard moderate oven. From gas mark 1 (140 °C / 275 °F) upward, each mark adds about 25 °F, which works out to 10–15 °C per step.
Gas mark chart
| Gas mark | °C (conventional) | °C (fan) | °F | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ | 110 °C | 90 °C | 225 °F | Very cool |
| ½ | 120–130 °C | 100–110 °C | 250 °F | Very cool |
| 1 | 140 °C | 120 °C | 275 °F | Cool |
| 2 | 150 °C | 130 °C | 300 °F | Cool |
| 3 | 160–170 °C | 140–150 °C | 325 °F | Moderate |
| 4 | 180 °C | 160 °C | 350 °F | Moderate |
| 5 | 190 °C | 170 °C | 375 °F | Moderately hot |
| 6 | 200 °C | 180 °C | 400 °F | Hot |
| 7 | 220 °C | 200 °C | 425 °F | Hot |
| 8 | 230 °C | 210 °C | 450 °F | Very hot |
| 9 | 240 °C | 220 °C | 475 °F | Very hot |
| 10 | 260 °C | 240 °C | 500 °F | Extremely hot (rare) |
The Fahrenheit column is the cleanest: from gas mark 1, each mark is exactly 25 °F more. The Celsius figures are rounded to friendly oven-dial numbers, which is why the steps look uneven (150 to 160 is 10 degrees, 200 to 220 is 20).
Where gas marks come from
Gas marks are a British (and Irish) scale from the days when gas cookers had numbered dials instead of thermometers. You'll still see them in UK recipe books, magazines and older family recipes, often printed alongside Celsius. They're almost never used in Canada, the US or Australia.
Common UK recipe instructions decoded
| Recipe says | Gas mark | °C | °F | Typical bake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Very low oven" | ¼–½ | 110–120 °C | 225–250 °F | Meringues, drying |
| "Low oven" | 1–2 | 140–150 °C | 275–300 °F | Rich fruit cake, slow-cooked stews |
| "Moderate oven" | 3–4 | 160–180 °C | 325–350 °F | Victoria sponge, biscuits, crumble |
| "Moderately hot" | 5–6 | 190–200 °C | 375–400 °F | Scones, roast chicken, bread |
| "Hot oven" | 7–8 | 220–230 °C | 425–450 °F | Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, pastry |
| "Very hot oven" | 9 | 240 °C | 475 °F | Pizza, quick blasting |
Converting gas mark to °C yourself
There's no single tidy formula because the scale isn't linear at the bottom, but between gas mark 1 and 9 this works:
- °F ≈ 250 + (gas mark × 25). Gas mark 6: 250 + 150 = 400 °F.
- Then convert to Celsius: (°F − 32) × 5/9. 400 °F = 204 °C, rounded to 200 °C.
For the two settings below gas mark 1, use the chart.
Quirks of gas ovens
Gas ovens heat by burning gas at the bottom of the oven, so hot air rises and the top shelf usually runs hotter than the middle. Traditional British cookery used that on purpose: top shelf for scones, middle for cakes, bottom for slow puddings.
Burning gas also adds water vapour to the oven air. That slightly humid heat can make crusts a little less crisp than in an electric oven, but helps roasts stay juicy.
If you're converting a gas-mark recipe to an electric fan oven, take the conventional Celsius figure from the chart and subtract 20 °C. See the fan oven conversion guide for details.
Related conversions
For American recipes in Fahrenheit, use the full oven temperature conversion chart. British recipes also measure in grams and millilitres, so the metric to US cooking measurements and cups to grams pages will help with the ingredient list.
Questions
What temperature is gas mark 4?
Gas mark 4 is 180 °C or 350 °F, which is 160 °C in a fan oven. It's the standard moderate setting for most cakes.
What is gas mark 6 in Celsius?
Gas mark 6 is 200 °C (400 °F), or 180 °C in a fan oven. It's a hot oven used for roasting and bread.
Is gas mark 1 the lowest setting?
No. Most British gas ovens also have gas mark ¼ (about 110 °C / 225 °F) and ½ (about 120 °C / 250 °F) for meringues and slow drying, and some have an S or Low setting below that.
Do gas ovens need a fan adjustment?
Traditional gas ovens have no fan, so use the conventional temperature. Gas ovens are often hotter at the top, so bake on the middle shelf unless the recipe says otherwise.