How to Convert Units in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Feb 5, 2025

Unit conversions are an essential part of many tasks, whether you're working with weights, lengths, temperatures, or other measurements. While Excel is widely known as a powerful spreadsheet tool, many people don't realize it can also be used for unit conversions. With its built-in functions and formulas, Excel can quickly handle conversions between various units—saving you time and effort.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to perform unit conversions in Excel with step-by-step instructions. We'll also highlight our unit conversion web app as an alternative for quick and seamless conversions.

Why Use Excel for Unit Conversions?

Excel is a great tool for unit conversions because:

  • It supports a wide range of units, including length, mass, time, and more.
  • You can automate conversions for multiple values at once.
  • It’s ideal for professionals who already use Excel for data analysis or reporting.

By leveraging Excel's built-in functions, you can perform precise conversions without switching between tools or manually looking up conversion factors.

Step-by-Step Guide for Unit Conversion in Excel

Excel provides a powerful function called CONVERT, which makes unit conversions quick and easy. Here's how to use it.

1. Understand the CONVERT Function

The CONVERT function in Excel uses this syntax:

=CONVERT(Number, From_unit, To_unit)
  • Number: The value you want to convert.
  • From_unit: The unit of measurement you're converting from (e.g., "m" for meters).
  • To_unit: The unit of measurement you're converting to (e.g., "ft" for feet).

2. Supported Units in Excel

Here are some common categories of units you can use with the CONVERT function:

  • Length: "m" (meters), "km" (kilometers), "ft" (feet), "in" (inches), "mi" (miles).
  • Weight/Mass: "g" (grams), "kg" (kilograms), "lbm" (pounds), "ozm" (ounces).
  • Time: "sec" (seconds), "min" (minutes), "hr" (hours).
  • Temperature: "C" (Celsius), "F" (Fahrenheit), "K" (Kelvin).

For a full list of supported units, refer to Excel’s official documentation or search for "Excel CONVERT function units."

3. Example: Converting Meters to Feet

Let’s say you have a value of 10 meters in cell A1, and you want to convert it to feet. Here’s what to do:

  1. Click on the cell where you want the converted value to appear (e.g., B1).
  2. Enter the following formula:
=CONVERT(A1, "m", "ft")
  1. Press Enter, and Excel will return the converted value (10 meters = 32.8084 feet).

4. Example: Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit

To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, use this formula:

=CONVERT(A1, "C", "F")

For instance, if A1 contains the value 25 (degrees Celsius), the formula will return 77 (degrees Fahrenheit).

5. Converting Multiple Values

If you have a list of numbers to convert, simply drag the formula down the column to apply it to all rows. Excel will automatically adjust the cell references, saving you time.

6. Common Errors and Troubleshooting

  • #N/A Error: This occurs if you use unsupported units or incorrect unit codes. Double-check the units in your formula.
  • Incorrect Results: Ensure you’re using the proper units for the conversion. For example, "g" refers to grams, not gallons.

Using Our Unit Conversion App as an Alternative

While Excel is a powerful tool, it can be time-consuming to set up conversion formulas—especially if you’re working with less common units or need quick one-off conversions.

That’s where our unit conversion web app comes in! Here’s why it’s a great alternative:

  • User-Friendly Interface: No need to remember unit codes or formulas. Just enter your value, select the units, and get instant results.
  • Wide Range of Units: Covers almost every unit imaginable, from metric to Imperial and beyond.
  • Time-Saving: Perfect for quick conversions without opening Excel.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or home cook, our app is designed to make unit conversions fast and hassle-free.

Final Thoughts

Excel’s CONVERT function is a fantastic tool for performing accurate unit conversions, especially if you’re already working within the platform. By following the steps in this guide, you can easily handle length, weight, temperature, and time conversions.

However, for more advanced or quick one-off conversions, give our unit conversion web app a try. It’s a convenient alternative that complements Excel and ensures you always have the right tools for the job.

With these tips and tools, you’ll never have to worry about confusing units again!