Gas Mark 3
Gas mark 3 is a moderate oven:
160 °C
Conventional oven
325 °F
Fahrenheit
Fan-forced ovens run about 20 °C hotter than conventional at the same dial setting, so gas mark 3 is 140 °C with the fan on. See the full oven temperature conversion chart.
Gas mark 3 is the gentle setting British recipes use for rich fruit cakes, cheesecakes, baked custards and slow braises — anything that needs the middle to set before the outside colours. It is also the rung conversion charts disagree about most often, so it is worth pinning down.
Gas Mark 3 conversion table
| Gas mark | Gas mark 3 |
| Conventional oven (°C) | 160 °C |
| Fahrenheit (°F) | 325 °F |
| Fan-forced / convection | 140 °C |
| Oven description | Moderate |
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= gas mark 4
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is gas mark 3?
Gas mark 3 is 160 °C in a conventional oven, or 325 °F. In a fan-forced oven, set 140 °C instead.
Is gas mark 3 160 °C or 170 °C?
160 °C. Some charts print 170 °C, which is where the confusion comes from, but the standard British oven chart puts gas mark 3 at 160 °C / 325 °F. 170 °C has no gas mark of its own — it falls between gas marks 3 and 4.
What is the difference between gas mark 3 and gas mark 4?
Twenty degrees: gas mark 3 is 160 °C and gas mark 4 is 180 °C. Gas mark 3 is the gentle bake; gas mark 4 is the standard moderate oven for everyday cakes and roasts.
What is gas mark 3 in a fan oven?
Set a fan oven to 140 °C. For long, slow bakes the fan can dry the surface, so some bakers cover the tin loosely as well as dropping the temperature.