Normal Human Body Temperature: Average & Range

Average core temperature: 37 °C (98.6 °F).

Normal Range

• Oral: 36.1‑37.2 °C (97‑99 °F).
• Rectal/tympanic: ~0.5 °C higher.
• Axillary: ~0.5 °C lower.

Physiology

• Homeothermic – hypothalamus maintains set‑point.
• Diurnal variation: lowest ~4 am, highest ~6 pm (Δ0.5‑1 °C).
• Fever = ≥38 °C (100.4 °F) rectal.

“Normal” is a range, not a single number.