How to Convert Measurements in Excel

Using the CONVERT function in Excel formulas

By
Ted French
Ted French
Writer
Former Lifewire writer Ted French is a Microsoft Certified Professional who teaches and writes about spreadsheets and spreadsheet programs.
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Updated on March 16, 2021

What to Know

  • Use this syntax: =CONVERT(Number,From_Unit,To_Unit)
  • Number is the value you want to convert; From_Unit is the unit for the Number; To_Unit is the unit for the result.

This article explains how to use the CONVERT function to change one value to its equivalent in another unit of measurement.

CONVERT Function Syntax

Excel CONVERT function

The following is the syntax for the CONVERT function: 

=CONVERT(Number,From_Unit,To_Unit)
  • The function is =CONVERT.
  • Number is the value you want to convert. It can be a number held within the same cell as the formula or one referenced in another cell.
  • From_Unit is the unit for the Number.
  • To_Unit is the unit for the result.

Excel requires abbreviations, or short forms, for many measurement units in From_Unit and To_Unit arguments. For example, "in" is used for inches, "m" for meters, "sec" for second, etc. There are several more examples at the bottom of this page.

CONVERT Function Example

Convert measurements in Excel

These instructions do not include formatting steps for the worksheet like you see in our example image. While this won't interfere with completing the tutorial, your worksheet will probably look different than the example shown here, but the CONVERT function will give you the same results.

In this example, we'll look at how to convert a measurement of 3.4 meters to an equivalent distance in feet.

  1. Enter the data into cells C1 to D4 of an Excel worksheet as seen in the image above.
  2. Select cell E4, which is where the results of the function will be displayed.
  3. Go to the Formulas menu and choose More Functions > Engineering.
  4. Select CONVERT from that drop-down menu.
  5. In the dialog box, select the text box next to the "Number" line, and then click on cell E3 in the worksheet to enter that cell reference into the dialog box.
  6. Return to the dialog box and select the From_unit text box.
  7. Select cell D3 in the worksheet to enter that cell reference.
  8. Back in the same dialog box, locate and select the text box next to To_unit and then select cell D4 in the worksheet to enter that cell reference.
  9. Click OK.

The answer 11.15485564 should appear in cell E4.

When you click on cell E4, the complete function =CONVERT(E3, D3, D4) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet.

To convert other distances from meters to feet, change the value in cell E3. To convert values using different units, enter the short form of the units in cells D3 and D4 and the value you want to convert in cell E3.

You can reduce the number of decimal places displayed in cell E4 to make it easier to read using the Decrease Decimal option available on the Home > Number menu section.

Another option for long numbers like this is to use the ROUNDUP function.

List of Excel's CONVERT Function Measurement Units and Their Short forms

Use the following short forms as the From_unit or To_unit argument for the function.

You can type the short forms directly into the appropriate line in the dialog box, or a cell reference to the location of the short form in the worksheet.

Time 

Year - "yr" 
 Day - "day" 
 Hour - "hr" 
 Minute - "mn" 
 Second - "sec"

Temperature 

Degree (Celsius) - "C" or "cel" 
 Degree (Fahrenheit) - "F" or "fah" 
 Degree (Kelvin) - "K" or "kel"

Distance 

Meter - "m" 
 Mile (statute) - "mi" 
 Mile (nautical) - "Nmi" 
Mile (US survey statute mile) - "survey_mi"
 Inch - "in" 
 Foot - "ft" 
 Yard - "yd"
Light-year - "ly"
Parsec - "pc" or "parsec" 
 Angstrom - "ang" 
 Pica - "pica"

Liquid Measure 

Liter - "l" or "lt" 
 Teaspoon - "tsp" 
 Tablespoon - "tbs" 
 Fluid ounce - "oz" 
 Cup - "cup" 
 Pint (U.S.) - "pt" or "us_pt" 
 Pint (U.K.) - "uk_pt" 
 Quart - "qt" 
 Gallon - "gal"

Weight and Mass 

 Gram - "g" 
 Pound mass (avoirdupois) - "lbm" 
 Ounce mass (avoirdupois) - "ozm"
Hundredweight (US) - "cwt" or "shweight"
Hundredweight (imperial) - "uk_cwt" or "lcwt"
 U (atomic mass unit) - "u"
Ton (imperial) - "uk_ton" or "LTON" 
 Slug - "sg"

Pressure 

Pascal - "Pa" or "p" 
 Atmosphere - "atm" or "at" 
 mm of Mercury - "mmHg"

Force 

Newton - "N" 
 Dyne - "dyn" or "dy" 
 Pound force - "lbf"

Power 

Horsepower - "h" or "HP" 
Pferdestärke - "PS"
 Watt - "w" or "W"

Energy 

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

Magnetism 

Tesla - "T" 
 Gauss - "ga"

Not all options are listed here. If the unit does not need to be abbreviated, it's not shown on this page.

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