Lukewarm water is generally around 98–105°F (about 37–40°C), just a bit warmer than normal body temperature and comfortably warm to the touch.

Quick Scoop

  • Most common range: About 98–105°F (36.5–40.5°C), often used for cooking and dissolving yeast because it’s warm but not hot enough to kill it.
  • Feels “pleasantly warm” on your skin, not hot, and definitely not steaming.
  • Some sources loosely use “lukewarm” closer to room temperature plus a bit (roughly mid‑70s°F to upper‑80s°F), but for recipes and health uses, the 98–105°F range is the practical target.

Simple way to eyeball it

  1. Run tap water until it feels slightly warmer than your skin but not hot or tingly.
  2. You should be able to keep your hand or wrist in it comfortably without wanting to pull away.
  3. If it feels noticeably hot, let it cool a little; if it feels barely warm, heat it just a touch.

In most modern recipes and guides, “lukewarm water” = roughly body‑warm water in that 98–105°F sweet spot.

TL;DR: If it feels like a comfortably warm bath, not a hot one, you’re right in the lukewarm zone.