CONVERT
Converts a number from one measurement unit to another. Supports weight, distance, time, temperature, energy, and many other unit types.
CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit)Arguments
numberThe value to convertfrom_unitThe unit of the original value (text)to_unitThe target unit (text)
=CONVERT(1, "mi", "km")1 mile = 1.6093 kilometers
=CONVERT(100, "C", "F")100 degrees Celsius = 212 Fahrenheit
=CONVERT(1, "kg", "lbm")1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds
=CONVERT(24, "hr", "mn")24 hours = 1440 minutes
- •Unit abbreviations are case-sensitive: "C" for Celsius, "c" is invalid
- •Supports metric prefixes: "km" for kilometer, "cm" for centimeter
- •Returns #N/A if units are incompatible (e.g. miles to kg)
- •Misspelling or mismatching a unit abbreviation - CONVERT's unit codes are case-sensitive and specific (like "mi" for miles vs "m" for meters), and a small typo produces a #N/A error rather than a silently wrong result
- •Trying to convert between fundamentally incompatible unit categories, like length to weight, which raises a #N/A error since CONVERT can only convert within the same measurement category
- •Forgetting that some unit prefixes (like "k" for kilo or "c" for centi) can be combined with base units to form compound codes, and guessing at a non-standard combination instead of checking Excel's documented list
TEXTSometimes used alongside CONVERT to format the numeric result with appropriate units or decimal places for display.ROUNDOften applied to CONVERT's output, since unit conversions can produce results with more decimal places than needed.VALUEOccasionally needed beforehand if the number being converted starts out as text rather than a genuine numeric value.Why does CONVERT return a #N/A error?
Either one of the unit codes is misspelled or doesn't exist, or you're trying to convert between incompatible categories, like length and weight, which CONVERT can't do.
Are CONVERT's unit codes case-sensitive?
Yes, many are - "m" means meters while "M" could mean something else in certain contexts, so it's worth double-checking the exact code from Excel's documentation rather than guessing.
Can CONVERT combine a prefix like kilo with any unit?
Only with units that support metric prefixes according to Excel's documented list - not every combination is valid, so check the reference table if a code isn't being recognized.
Need to translate a formula using CONVERT?
Use our translator to convert your complete formula