Dew Point Calculator
What Is Dew Point?
Dew point is the temperature at which the air becomes fully saturated with water vapor and moisture starts to condense into liquid water. When air cools to its dew point, you see effects like dew on grass, fog in the air, or condensation on windows and cold drinks.
Unlike relative humidity, which is expressed as a percentage, dew point is expressed in degrees (°C or °F). That makes it a more intuitive way to describe how humid the air actually feels. Two rooms can both have 50% relative humidity but feel very different if the temperatures are different; their dew points will reveal that difference.
In everyday terms, a higher dew point means more moisture in the air and a greater chance of feeling sticky, muggy, or clammy. A lower dew point indicates drier air, which can feel crisp and comfortable—or very dry and irritating—depending on how low it is.
How This Dew Point Calculator Works
This calculator estimates dew point from two inputs:
- Air temperature (in °C or °F)
- Relative humidity (RH, in %)
Behind the scenes, the tool uses a common meteorological approximation (often called a Magnus-type formula). It first converts your temperature to Celsius if needed, then combines that temperature with the relative humidity to estimate the dew point. Finally, if you chose Fahrenheit, the result is converted back to °F for display.
You do not need to do any math yourself: just enter air temperature and relative humidity, select the correct temperature unit, and the calculator outputs the dew point temperature.
The Dew Point Formula
A widely used approximation for dew point in Celsius is based on constants that work well for typical weather and indoor comfort ranges. One common version is:
where:
- is the dew point in °C
- is the air temperature in °C
- is relative humidity as a percentage
- and are empirical constants
The intermediate variable is defined as:
Typical constant choices for air temperatures around everyday conditions are:
- °C
This is the form of the Magnus approximation commonly implemented in weather and HVAC tools. Our calculator uses an equivalent formulation to arrive at the same type of result.
Once the dew point is computed in Celsius, it can be converted to Fahrenheit using the standard temperature conversion:
Dew point (°F) = Dew point (°C) × 9/5 + 32
How to Use the Dew Point Calculator
- Measure or look up the air temperature. Use a thermometer indoors, or check a reliable weather source for outdoor conditions.
- Find the relative humidity. Indoors, a hygrometer or smart thermostat can show RH. Outdoors, use a weather app or station reading.
- Choose the correct temperature unit. Select Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F) to match the temperature value you are entering.
- Enter the air temperature and RH. Type the values into the calculator fields. Reasonable indoor humidity usually falls between about 30% and 60%.
- Calculate the dew point. Submit the form to see the dew point temperature. The result summarizes how humid it feels and may note comfort and condensation implications.
You can adjust the inputs to see how changing humidity or temperature shifts the dew point and how that affects comfort.
Interpreting Dew Point and Comfort Levels
Dew point is closely tied to how comfortable the air feels on your skin. As a rule of thumb, people are more sensitive to changes in dew point than to changes in relative humidity alone.
Use these ranges as a quick guide for human comfort, especially in summer or during warm indoor conditions:
| Dew point range | How it typically feels | Typical effects |
|---|---|---|
| Below 30°F (−1°C) | Very dry | Air can feel harsh; dry skin, static, and irritated eyes are common. |
| 30–40°F (−1 to 4°C) | Dry | Crisp air; indoor environments may feel dry, especially in winter. |
| 40–55°F (4 to 13°C) | Comfortable | Generally pleasant for most people, especially with moderate temperatures. |
| 55–65°F (13 to 18°C) | Humid | Starts to feel muggy for many; sweat evaporates more slowly. |
| 65–70°F (18 to 21°C) | Very humid | Often oppressive, particularly if air temperature is also high. |
| Above 70°F (21°C) | Oppressive | High heat stress risk outdoors; strong air conditioning or dehumidification is usually needed indoors. |
These ranges are general guidelines; individual comfort varies. However, they provide a quick way to interpret the dew point number from the calculator.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Dew Point
Indoors, most people are comfortable when the dew point is roughly in the low- to mid-40s °F (around 5–7°C) up to the low- to mid-50s °F (around 11–13°C), assuming moderate room temperatures. In winter, if the dew point indoors is very low, you may notice dry skin, static electricity, and cracking wood. A humidifier can help raise indoor moisture to a healthier level.
Outdoors, dew point becomes an important indicator of heat stress. On hot summer days, a dew point above about 65°F (18°C) can make it feel significantly hotter than the air temperature alone suggests. Combined with high temperatures, very high dew points increase the risk of heat-related illness because sweat does not evaporate as efficiently.
For planning outdoor activities, the dew point from this calculator can complement tools like a heat index or apparent temperature calculator by explaining why a given day feels comfortable or oppressive.
Condensation, Mold, and Building Considerations
Because dew point determines when moisture will condense, it helps identify the risk of water accumulating on surfaces. If a surface is cooler than the current dew point, moisture will tend to form there. Typical examples include:
- Water beading on cold windows during humid weather
- Condensation on pipes or uninsulated metal ducts
- Damp basement walls when warm, moist air meets cooler masonry
Persistent condensation can support mold growth, damage finishes, and reduce indoor air quality. If the dew point is consistently high indoors, a dehumidifier, air conditioning, or improved ventilation can help keep surfaces above the dew point drier. Conversely, very low dew points can harm wood floors, musical instruments, and furniture by drawing too much moisture out; in that case, a humidifier can raise indoor humidity to a safer zone.
Worked Example
Suppose you measure an indoor air temperature of 77°F and a relative humidity of 60%. You want to know how humid it really is.
- Convert temperature to °C. 77°F is approximately 25°C.
- Compute α. Using and °C:
α = (a × T) / (b + T) + ln(RH / 100)
α ≈ (17.27 × 25) / (237.7 + 25) + ln(0.60)Evaluating the numbers gives a specific α value (the calculator performs this step automatically).
- Compute dew point in °C.
Td = (b × α) / (a − α)The result is a dew point of roughly 16–17°C.
- Convert to °F.
Dew point (°F) ≈ 16.5 × 9/5 + 32 ≈ 61.7°F
A dew point near 62°F indicates that the air is on the humid side. Many people would describe that room as slightly muggy, especially if they are active.
Comparing Dew Point, Relative Humidity, and Temperature
Dew point, relative humidity, and temperature are related but describe different aspects of moisture in the air. The table below summarizes how they compare.
| Measure | What it describes | How it is expressed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dew point | Absolute moisture content: the temperature where air becomes saturated and condensation begins. | Temperature (°C or °F) | Comfort assessment, condensation and mold risk, HVAC and building design. |
| Relative humidity | How close the air is to saturation compared with the maximum it can hold at the current temperature. | Percentage (%) | Indoor air quality guidelines, equipment specifications, general weather reports. |
| Air temperature | How hot or cold the air is, regardless of moisture content. | Temperature (°C or °F) | Thermal comfort, heating and cooling needs, energy use calculations. |
By combining all three, you get a more complete picture of indoor and outdoor conditions. For example, a moderate temperature with a high dew point can feel more uncomfortable than a slightly higher temperature with a lower dew point.
Assumptions and Limitations
The dew point values from this calculator are estimates based on an empirical approximation. While this approach is widely used and sufficiently accurate for most home, office, and general weather applications, it has some important assumptions and limits:
- Typical temperature range: The formula is most reliable for air temperatures roughly between −40°C and 50°C (−40°F to 122°F). Outside this range, errors can increase.
- Moderate humidity levels: Accuracy is best for relative humidity between about 20% and 100%. Extremely low humidity values may introduce more error.
- Clean, well-mixed air: The method assumes that the air is relatively uniform in temperature and moisture. Very localized sources of moisture or heat can cause differences not captured by a single reading.
- Instrument quality: The results depend on the accuracy of your thermometer and humidity sensor. Inexpensive devices can easily be off by several percent RH or a degree or two.
- Informational use only: This calculator is intended for general comfort assessment, basic planning, and education. It is not a substitute for calibrated meteorological instruments or professional engineering analysis where precise measurements are required.
Keep these limitations in mind when interpreting dew point values close to critical thresholds, such as when evaluating condensation risk in sensitive buildings or equipment.
Using Dew Point Alongside Other Tools
Dew point is one piece of the indoor air quality and weather puzzle. For a full picture of heat stress and comfort, you may want to consider tools that combine temperature, humidity, and sometimes wind or radiation, such as a heat index or apparent temperature calculator. For building moisture control, dew point can be compared with surface temperatures to judge when and where condensation is most likely.
By regularly tracking dew point along with temperature and relative humidity, you can better decide when to ventilate, when to dehumidify, and when to add moisture with a humidifier, helping to protect both health and building materials.