Body Temperature Chart: Normal, Fever, Hypothermia

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 5 Jan 2016 - Updated: 15 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information provides a comprehensive overview of human body temperature ranges, detailing what constitutes normal, fever, and hypothermic readings for various age groups and measurement sites. It explains the physiological factors influencing temperature, such as time of day, activity level, and menstrual cycle, and offers clear guidance on how to accurately measure temperature using different methods, including oral, rectal, ear, armpit, and forehead readings.

The article is particularly valuable for caregivers, seniors, and individuals with disabilities who may need to monitor temperature more closely due to health vulnerabilities, and it includes specific thresholds for fever in the context of COVID-19. Authoritative and well-referenced, the information draws on standards from reputable organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics, making it a reliable resource for anyone needing to interpret temperature readings or recognize when medical attention is necessary.

At a Glance

• 1 - Hypothermia starts at 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 2 - Rare survivals are on record at both extremes, 13.7 degrees Celsius and 46.5 degrees Celsius.
• 3 - Hyperthermia is a high reading that is not a fever, caused by heatstroke, certain drugs, or serotonin syndrome.
• 4 - The American Academy of Pediatrics puts a healthy baby's range at 97 to 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, with fever starting at 100.4 rectally.

Topic Definition

Body Temperature Chart

A body temperature chart is a reference table that lays out the range of human temperature readings side by side with what each range means clinically, from the narrow band considered normal through the graded stages of fever above it and hypothermia below it. Its usefulness comes from context rather than from any single number. A reading only makes sense once you know where it was taken, because oral, rectal, ear, forehead, and underarm sites each run slightly differently, and once you account for who was measured and when, since infants, children, adults, and older people have different baselines and everyone's temperature drifts up and down over the course of a day, with hormonal cycles and physical activity nudging it further. Good charts pair the numbers with the symptoms that tend to accompany them - shivering and confusion on the cold side, delirium and collapse on the hot side - and most include a Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion column, since medical sources and home thermometers do not always agree on units. Used sensibly, a chart of this kind helps a parent, caregiver, or patient tell an unremarkable variation from a genuine warning sign, but it is a guide for interpreting a reading, not a substitute for a clinician's judgment when someone is unwell.

Overview

Did you know normal human body temperature is also known as normothermia or euthermia? And your body temperature can be measured in many locations, including the mouth, ear, armpit, forehead, and rectum? However, it is worth noting that your body temperature reading will vary depending on where the measurement is taken. The armpit is about 0.5C lower than the human body's core temperature (temperature of the internal organs) - the time of day, your age, and activity level, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle can also affect your temperature reading.

Core Body Temperature Ranges and Symptoms

🟩 Normal Body Temperature Range

🟦 Cold Body Temperature Range (Hypothermia)

🟥 Fever Body Temperature Range (Hyperthermia)

°C to °F and °F to °C Body Temperature Conversion Chart

COVID-19 Fever Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• 38.1% of cases reported fatigue.
• 67.7% of cases that reported dry cough
• 87.9% of 55,924 laboratory-confirmed cases reported a fever.

COVID-19 Fever Levels

• Children: 38 °C (100.4 °F) and above (rectal temperature)
• Adults: 38 °C (100.4 °F) and above (oral temperature)
• Older adults: 37.8 °C (100 °F) and above (oral temperature)
• Or 1.1 °C above the person's usual value.

It's important to clarify that not all COVID-19 cases will get a fever, nor will everyone with a fever test positive for COVID-19, but it is a prevalent symptom.

Quick Facts:

• Body temperature can change throughout the day.
• Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature).
• A temperature over 38 °C (100.4 °F) most often means you have a fever caused by infection or illness.
• It is generally medically accepted that normal body temperature ranges between 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) to 37.5 °C (99.5 °F).

Body Temperature Can Be Taken Either:

• Orally - By mouth - glass thermometer, or a digital thermometer.
• Rectally - Temperatures taken rectally tend to be 0.5 to 0.7 degrees F HIGHER than when taken by mouth.
• Forehead (Skin) - A special thermometer can quickly measure the skin's temperature on the forehead.
• Ear - A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the eardrum, which reflects the body's core temperature.
• Axillary - Temperature taken under the arm (armpit) tends to be 0.3 to 0.4 degrees F LOWER than those taken by mouth.

What is the Normal Body Temperature for a Baby?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states the normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit (37.94 °C). If the rectal temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, they are considered to have a fever.

What is the Normal Body Temperature for Children?

The average body temperature for children is about 37 °C (98.6 °F). A child's temperature usually averages from around 36.3 °C (97.4 °F) in the morning to 37.6 °C (99.6 °F) in the afternoon.

What is the Normal Body Temperature for Adults?

• Temperature in the mouth (oral) is about 36.8 °C (98.2 °F)
• Temperature under the arm (axillary) is about 36.5 °C (97.7 °F)
• Temperature in the anus (rectum/rectal), vagina, or in-ear (otic) is about 37.5 °C (99.5 °F)

At What Temperature Are You said to Have a Fever?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a fever is indicated when body temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal temperature of 37.0 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Adults:

A fever is generally agreed to be present if:

• Temperature in the mouth (oral) is at or over 37.8 °C (100 °F)
• Temperature under the arm (axillary) is at or over 37.2 °C (99.0 °F)
• Temperature in the anus (rectum/rectal), in the ear (otic) or temporal artery temperature of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher

Children:

A child is considered to have a fever if their rectal temperature is 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher - or a child's armpit temperature is 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) or higher.

What is Basal Body Temperature?

Basal body temperature is defined as the lowest temperature attained by the human body during rest (usually during sleep). Basal body temperature is generally measured immediately after awakening, although the temperature measured at that time is somewhat higher than the actual basal body temperature. In women, body temperature will differ at various points in the menstrual cycle, and this temperature change can be used to track ovulation to aid conception or avoid pregnancy.

What is Core Body Temperature?

Core temperature is the operating temperature of an organism, specifically in deep structures, such as the liver, compared to temperatures of peripheral tissues. Core temperature is normally maintained within a narrow range, so essential enzymatic reactions can occur.

What is Hyperpyrexia?

The word used for a fever with an extreme elevation of body temperature greater than or equal to 41.5 °C (106.7 °F).

What is Hyperthermia?

A high temperature that is not a fever. Causes include heatstroke, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, idiosyncratic drug reactions, malignant hyperthermia, stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine, and serotonin syndrome.

What Body Temperature Denotes Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 °C). Hypothermia can quickly become life-threatening and should be treated as a medical emergency. Hypothermia is the opposite of hyperthermia, which is present in heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Normal Human Body and Fever Temperature Chart

Printable Celsius to Fahrenheit Body Temperature Conversion Table

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit still considered the true average

That figure traces back to nineteenth century research, and more recent studies of large patient populations put the modern average slightly lower, closer to 97.5 to 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The practical takeaway is that your own baseline matters more than the textbook number, so it helps to know what is normal for you when you are well.

Why does the body raise its own temperature during an infection

The brain deliberately resets its internal thermostat upward because many bacteria and viruses reproduce less efficiently at higher temperatures and some immune functions work better. This is why a moderate fever in an otherwise healthy person is often left to run its course, with treatment aimed at comfort rather than at the number itself.

Does a higher fever always mean a more serious illness

Not reliably. A mild virus can produce a high reading while a serious infection sometimes produces only a slight one, so clinicians pay more attention to how a person looks and behaves, how long the fever has lasted, and what other symptoms are present.

What is a febrile seizure

A febrile seizure is a convulsion triggered by a rapid rise in temperature, most often in children between roughly six months and five years of age. They are frightening to witness but usually brief and not a sign of epilepsy, though any first seizure should be assessed by a doctor promptly.

Why might an older adult with an infection not run a fever

Aging tends to lower baseline temperature and blunt the fever response, so a serious infection may show up as confusion, weakness, loss of appetite, or a fall instead of a high reading. Because of that, a smaller rise above a person usual temperature is treated as significant in older patients.

How long should I wait before taking a temperature

Wait about fifteen to thirty minutes after eating, drinking, smoking, bathing, or exercising, since all of these can skew a reading in either direction. Coming in from very hot or very cold weather warrants a similar pause before measuring.

Can medication hide a fever

Yes, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin lower temperature for several hours, and corticosteroids or certain other drugs can suppress the fever response more broadly. Noting when a dose was taken alongside each reading gives a much clearer picture of what is actually happening.

Do some disabilities affect the ability to regulate temperature

They can. People with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, or certain autonomic and neurological conditions may sweat or shiver less effectively and are more vulnerable to both overheating and dropping too low, and some medications add to that risk. Anyone in this position benefits from discussing a personal set of warning temperatures with their healthcare team.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Understanding the nuances of body temperature is more than just a matter of numbers-it's a crucial aspect of health management, especially for those at increased risk, such as the elderly or people with disabilities. This article demystifies the complexities of temperature readings and provides practical, actionable information that can help individuals and caregivers make informed decisions about when to seek medical advice. In a world where timely intervention can make all the difference, having access to clear, authoritative guidance is invaluable.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.