How to Use the Convert Function in Excel

If you’re working regularly in Excel, you may already know that it’s a powerhouse for handling data. But did you know it has a built-in Convert function that lets you quickly convert units of weight, distance, time, volume, and more? In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to use the Convert function in Excel and show you just how versatile it can be.

There’s a lot we can do with this function, from shifting values between ounces and grams to calculating light years in miles. The tool is pretty intuitive, and I’ll break it down step by step below.

Grab your favorite spreadsheet—let’s dive in!

What is the Convert Function?

The Convert function in Excel is designed to take a number and shift it between measurement units. This comes in handy when you deal with massive datasets and have to move between various metrics, whether you’re working with distance, weight, temperature, time, or even data size.

Getting familiar with this tool can save you so much time, especially if you work in fields like engineering, science, or IT. It’s useful across the board, from basic distance conversions to more complex scientific calculations.

Basic Syntax

Before we jump in, here’s a quick overview of Excel’s convert function’s syntax:

=CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit)

number: This is the value you’re converting.
from_unit: The unit you’re converting from (e.g., “g” for grams).
to_unit: The unit you’re converting to (e.g., “ozm” for ounces).

Let me show you how to use this in the real world.

Step-by-Step Examples

Converting Grams to Ounces

We’re going to start with converting grams to ounces — simple enough, but it shows you how easy it is. Follow these steps:

Click on the cell where you’d like to display the conversion.
Type =CONVERT(.
Select the cell with your value (say, 100 grams).
Enter g (grams) as the from_unit and ozm (for ounces) as the to_unit.
Hit Enter to get your result.

For example, if you’re converting 100 grams, the output will be approximately 4 ounces.

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Ounces to Pounds

Now let’s move from ounces to pounds. Using the Convert function in Excel for this is just as simple.

Type =CONVERT( and select the value cell (let’s say 300 ounces).
Input ozm (ounce mass) in the from_unit and lbm (pound mass) in the to_unit.
Press Enter and your 300 ounces will convert to about 19 pounds.

Distance: Meters to Miles

Next, let’s use Excel’s convert function for distance measurements, like meters to miles:

Suppose you have 275 meters. Navigate to your Convert function by typing =CONVERT(.
Enter your value cell followed by m for meters and mi for miles.
Press Enter, and you’ll get your answer, which in this case is less than a mile (about 0.17 miles).

Light Years to Miles

This is where things get fun! If you’re a science person, converting light years to miles might pique your interest.

Take your light year value (say 15), type =CONVERT(15, "ly", "mi") and hit Enter.
The result will be an astronomical amount (literally). In simple terms: a lot of miles!

Converting Time: Days to Years

Time conversions are just as easy. Here’s how to convert days to years:

Select the cell with 755 days, enter =CONVERT(755, "day", "yr").
Press Enter, and Excel will return about 2 years.

This method works for hours, too. Switch day to hr if you want to convert hours into days.

Temperature: Celsius to Fahrenheit

Temperature conversions can also be done quickly using the Convert function.

Type =CONVERT(, select your value (say 39 degrees Celsius), then enter C as from_unit and F as to_unit.
Hit Enter, and Excel will convert 39°C to 102°F.

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Exploring Other Conversions

The Convert function in Excel is incredibly flexible. Here are a few other conversions you might find useful:

Volume: 500 teaspoons to tablespoons (=CONVERT(500, "tsp", "tbs"))
Distance: 1540 feet to yards (=CONVERT(1540, "ft", "yd"))
Weight: 300 pints to cups (=CONVERT(300, "pt", "cup"))

One important note: always double-check your units. Many units share abbreviations that might confuse you, like teaspoons (tsp) and tablespoons (tbs). A misstep here can lead to inaccurate results.

Need More Help?

Stuck on which units to use? No worries—Excel offers a built-in guide that can help you figure it out.

When you’re entering a Convert formula, if you can’t remember the unit’s abbreviation, click on Help with this Function (it appears as a prompt in the formula bar).

This will open a detailed reference guide within Excel that includes options for:

Weights and Mass
Distance
Time
Pressure
Temperature
Energy
Data (bytes, bits)
And more!

This way, whether you’re converting miles to kilometers, or figuring out power conversions like horsepower, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips.

Conclusion

The Convert function in Excel is an incredibly useful tool that can simplify everything from basic unit conversions to more complex scientific ones. The time savings it offers can be huge, especially when working with large datasets or performing calculations you’d otherwise have to do manually.

Knowing how to use this function is crucial if you deal with numbers, measurements, or data of any kind. And remember, whether it’s distance, weight, or time conversions, Excel makes it easy.

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How to Use the Convert Function in Excel

What is the Convert Function?

Basic Syntax