Forging temperature is the temperature at which a metal becomes substantially more soft, but is lower than the melting temperature, such that it can be reshaped by forging. Bringing a metal to its forging temperature allows the metal's shape to be changed by applying a relatively small force, without creating cracks. For most metals, forging temperature is approximately 70% of the absolute temperature (usually measured in kelvins) of its melting point.
Selecting the maximum forging temperature allows metals to be forged more easily, lowering the forging pressure and thus the wear on metal-forming dies. The temperature at which a metal is forged can affect the homogeneity in microstructure and mechanical properties of forged products, which can highly affect the performance of products used in manufacturing.