# Oven temperature scales. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oven-temperature-scales/68555 "2001-06-12T16:24:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![willrolt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@willrolt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willrolt)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oven-temperature-scales/68555/1 "2001-06-12T16:24:36Z")
Having used both gas and electric cookers, I am puzzled as to why electric oven thermostats are always calibrated in degrees celsius and/or farenheit but gas ovens thermostats are calibrated 1 to 10. Is this a legacy of old and different designs or is there an important reason. I know it doesn’t take much to convert a temperature to the equivalent gas mark, but wouldn’t it make things (labels, recipes etc.) simpler if a universal standard was adopted? Not exactly a life or death matter, but I was just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oven-temperature-scales/68555/2 "2001-06-12T16:37:57Z")
Every gas or electric oven I’ve seen (United States) has degrees farenheit. Possibly the 1-10 scale is from older ovens? ---
**Author:** ![DJScherr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DJScherr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJScherr)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oven-temperature-scales/68555/3 "2001-06-12T17:51:26Z")
My gas oven (circa early 60s by the look of it, I rent) has temperature degrees, not just 1-10. I know my aunt (only other person I know of who has a gas stove) also has degrees for hers.