How to Convert Unit in Excel

A number in a measurement system can be converted to another using the Excel convert function.

For instance, you can convert pounds into kilograms, Fahrenheit to Celsius, gallons to liters, and many other unit conversions using the convert command.

Excel’s convert function ("=CONVERT()") converts a measurement from one unit to another. You must enter data and units into the formula =Convert(number, "from unit", "to unit") in order to utilize this function.

Excel has many built-in features, one of which falls under the engineering function category is the Convert function.

In Excel, it can be utilized as a worksheet function (WS). The Convert function can be used as part of a formula in a worksheet cell as a worksheet function.

In addition to the many value calculators that get the job faster and are currently available on the Internet, such as ValuesCalculator, the native converting function on Excel also does an amazing job.

Check out the steps below to learn how to convert units in Excel!

How do I convert units in Excel?

The convert function in Excel works quite simply - it takes the numbers from one measurement unit, and converts the number to the other desired function by following a formula.

The entire process looks something like this:

=CONVERT(100,"yd","m")

=CONVERT(22,"C","F")

=CONVERT(1,"gal","l")

=CONVERT(100,"m2","ft2")

Follow the step-by-step process to convert units in Microsoft Excel:

The following steps show conversion guides for meters to yards.

1. Enter the =CONVERT(A1, “m”, ”yd”) in a blank cell, and press enter. This will be entered in the cell you've chosen - let’s say E1.
2. The meter number should be converted to yards after pressing enter. Do the same for each column containing meters - The b column should be converted in the F column, C in G, and so on.
3. Select the range of the converted columns - E to G.
4. Click on ‘Home’, followed by ‘File’, ‘Down’, and ‘Right’.
5. The unit measurement of all data A1:C5, for example, will show up in yards.

How is each measurement written?

The measurement abbreviations are strictly written, and any change can cause the formula not to work properly.

Here is a detailed list of all measurement units and how they’re written:

Weight and mass	Unit
Gram	"g"
Slug	"sg"
Pound mass	"lbm"
U (atomic mass unit)	"u"
Ounce mass	"ozm"
Grain	"grain"
U.S. (short) hundredweight	"cwt" or "shweight"
Imperial hundredweight	"uk_cwt" or "lcwt" ("hweight")
Stone	"stone"
Ton	"ton"
Imperial ton	"uk_ton" or "LTON" ("brton")

Distance	Unit
Meter	"m"
Statute mile	"mi"
Nautical mile	"Nmi"
Inch	"in"
Foot	"ft"
Yard	"yd"
Angstrom	"ang"
Ell	"ell"
Light-year	"ly"
Parsec	"parsec" or "pc"
Pica (1/72 inch)	"Picapt" or "Pica"
Pica (1/6 inch)	"pica"
U.S survey mile (statute mile)	"survey_mi"

Time	Unit
Year	"yr"
Day	"day" or "d"
Hour	"hr"
Minute	"mn" or "min"
Second	"sec" or "s"

Pressure	Unit
Pascal	"Pa" (or "p")
Atmosphere	"atm" (or "at")
mm of Mercury	"mmHg"
PSI	"psi"
Torr	"Torr"

Force	Unit
Newton	"N"
Dyne	"dyn" (or "dy")
Pound force	"lbf"
Pond	"pond"

Energy	Unit
Joule	"J"
Erg	"e"
Thermodynamic calorie	"c"
IT calorie	"cal"
Electron volt	"eV" (or "ev")
Horsepower-hour	"HPh" (or "hh")
Watt-hour	"Wh" (or "wh")
Foot-pound	"flb"
BTU	"BTU" (or "btu")

Power	Unit
Horsepower	"HP" (or "h")
Pferdestärke	"PS"
Watt	"W" (or "w")

Magnetism	Unit
Tesla	"T"
Gauss	"ga"

Temperature	Unit
Degree Celsius	"C" (or "cel")
Degree Fahrenheit	"F" (or "fah")
Kelvin	"K" (or "kel")
Degrees Rankine	"Rank"
Degrees Réaumur	"Reau"

Liquid measure	Unit
Teaspoon	"tsp"
Modern teaspoon	"tspm"
Tablespoon	"tbs"
Fluid ounce	"oz"
Cup	"cup"
U.S. pint	"pt" (or "us_pt")
U.K. pint	"uk_pt"
Quart	"qt"
Imperial quart (U.K.)	"uk_qt"
Gallon	"gal"
Imperial gallon (U.K.)	"uk_gal"
Liter	"l" or "L" ("lt")

Volume	Unit
Cubic angstrom	"ang3" or "ang^3"
U.S. oil barrel	"barrel"
U.S. bushel	"bushel"
Cubic feet	"ft3" or "ft^3"
Cubic inch	"in3" or "in^3"
Cubic light-year	"ly3" or "ly^3"
Cubic meter	"m3" or "m^3"
Cubic Mile	"mi3" or "mi^3"
Cubic yard	"yd3" or "yd^3"
Cubic nautical mile	"Nmi3" or "Nmi^3"
Cubic Pica	"Picapt3", "Picapt^3", "Pica3" or "Pica^3"
Gross Registered Ton	"GRT" ("regton")
Measurement ton (freight ton)	"MTON"

Area	Unit
International acre	"uk_acre"
U.S. survey/statute acre	"us_acre"
Square angstrom	"ang2" or “ang^2"
Are	"ar"
Square feet	"ft2" or "ft^2"
Hectare	"ha"
Square inches	"in2" or "in^2"
Square light-year	"ly2" or "ly^2"
Square meters	"m2" or "m^2"
Morgen	"Morgen"
Square miles	"mi2" or "mi^2"
Square nautical miles	"Nmi2" or "Nmi^2"
Square Pica	"Picapt2", "Pica2", "Pica^2" or "Picapt^2"
Square yards	"yd2" or "yd^2"

Information	Unit
Bit	"bit"
Byte	"byte"

Important notes

The convert function on Excel is extremely sensitive. Any change, such as adding hyphens, or quotation marks, can cause the formula to stop working.

A N/A error will show up if the unit string cannot be recognized.

A N/A error will show up for non-compatible units.

A N/A error will show up when invalid numbers are entered.

Conclusion

Excel has a built-in function that can be used to convert any unit with a simple, easily modifiable formula.

The steps are the same regardless of which Excel you’re using - it could be Excel 2003 or Excel 2013.

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