Rankine (°R): temperature unit guide

What is being measured?

Temperature readings depend on a scale and its zero point. Absolute temperature and a temperature difference require different treatment of offsets.

Temperature scales use offsets and scaling. Absolute temperature cannot be below zero kelvin.

Meaning of °R

Rankine uses the symbol °R in this library and measures temperature. Under the stated reference convention, a temperature reading of 1 °R = approximately 0.555555555556 K. This compares readings on the two scales. A temperature difference uses only the scale factor, without the zero-point offset. It does not increase measurement accuracy or establish whether a measurement is appropriate to a real application.

Conversion method

Multiply the value by the source factor (0.5555555555555556), then divide by the target factor (1). The factor ratio expresses the same temperature measurement in the other unit.

Worked example

For a known value of 10 °R, the reference conversion gives 5.55555555556 K. Converting that result back gives approximately 10 °R. This reverse check helps catch a reversed factor, but matching round-trip arithmetic alone does not independently verify a source definition.

Common reference values

Compare one °R with other units

Precision and common mistakes

• Keep the source and target quantity consistent. A matching symbol is not enough to establish a compatible definition.
• Record the original measurement precision. Showing twelve significant digits in a table does not make a rounded input more precise.
• Check symbol capitalization, prefixes and any regional convention in the source. Use the displayed unit definition rather than a similarly named unit.
• Factors involving repeating fractions or π use finite numerical precision. Round the final answer to the precision justified by your input.

Use a working converter

• Temperature converter
• Rankine to Celsius converter
• Rankine to Fahrenheit converter
• Rankine to Kelvin converter

Source and verification scope

Examples and tables are computed from the versioned unit definitions used by the linked converters. The source access dates appear below. Computandum is independent of the cited organizations; a citation does not mean that a publisher endorses this page or an actual project.

Read the calculation and sourcing methodology →