What is the syntax for CONVERT in Excel?

The syntax for CONVERT is: =CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit)

What are common errors with CONVERT?

#N/A if units are incompatible. #VALUE! if unit text is invalid

What units does CONVERT support in Excel?

CONVERT supports 100+ units across categories: Weight (lbm, kg, g, oz), Distance (mi, km, m, ft, in), Temperature (C, F, K), Time (yr, day, hr, min, sec), Volume (gal, l, pt, qt), Area (m2, ft2), Speed (m/s, mph), Energy (J, cal, BTU), Pressure (Pa, atm, mmHg), and more. Use Excel's help for the complete list.

How do I convert Celsius to Fahrenheit with CONVERT?

Use =CONVERT(value, "C", "F") for Celsius to Fahrenheit. Example: =CONVERT(0, "C", "F") returns 32. For Fahrenheit to Celsius: =CONVERT(value, "F", "C"). For Kelvin: use "K". Example: =CONVERT(100, "C", "K") returns 373.15. Temperature conversions are among the most common CONVERT uses.

Why is CONVERT returning #N/A error?

CONVERT returns #N/A when: 1) Units are incompatible (can't convert miles to kilograms); 2) Unit abbreviation is misspelled or invalid; 3) Unit doesn't exist in Excel's list. Check that both units are from the same category (both length, both weight, etc.). Unit codes are case-sensitive: "m" is meters, "M" is invalid.

How do I convert square or cubic units with CONVERT?

Add "2" for square units or "3" for cubic units to the base unit. Examples: =CONVERT(1, "m2", "ft2") converts square meters to square feet. =CONVERT(1, "m3", "l") converts cubic meters to liters. =CONVERT(1, "in2", "cm2") converts square inches to square centimeters. This works for any length unit.

Engineering

CONVERT Function in Excel

Converts a number from one measurement system to another.

Syntax

=CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit)

Arguments

number (required): The value to convert
from_unit (required): The unit of the input value
to_unit (required): The unit for the result

Examples

=CONVERT(100, "mi", "km") - Convert 100 miles to kilometers - Result: 160.934
=CONVERT(32, "F", "C") - Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius - Result: 0
=CONVERT(1, "lbm", "kg") - Convert pounds to kilograms - Result: 0.4536

CONVERT in technical sheets

Document units in adjacent cells — many engineering functions require exact unit strings.
Use [CONVERT](/functions/convert/) for unit changes before specialized formulas.
Validate inputs with [ISNUMBER](/functions/isnumber/) and range checks.

Common errors

#N/A if units are incompatible
#VALUE! if unit text is invalid

Use cases

Unit conversions
International data
Scientific calculations

Frequently asked questions

What is the CONVERT function in Excel? CONVERT changes a number from one measurement unit to another. The syntax is =CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit). For example, =CONVERT(100, "mi", "km") converts 100 miles to kilometers (160.934). It supports length, weight, temperature, time, pressure, energy, and many other unit types.
What units does CONVERT support in Excel? CONVERT supports 100+ units across categories: Weight (lbm, kg, g, oz), Distance (mi, km, m, ft, in), Temperature (C, F, K), Time (yr, day, hr, min, sec), Volume (gal, l, pt, qt), Area (m2, ft2), Speed (m/s, mph), Energy (J, cal, BTU), Pressure (Pa, atm, mmHg), and more. Use Excel's help for the complete list.
How do I convert Celsius to Fahrenheit with CONVERT? Use =CONVERT(value, "C", "F") for Celsius to Fahrenheit. Example: =CONVERT(0, "C", "F") returns 32. For Fahrenheit to Celsius: =CONVERT(value, "F", "C"). For Kelvin: use "K". Example: =CONVERT(100, "C", "K") returns 373.15. Temperature conversions are among the most common CONVERT uses.
Why is CONVERT returning #N/A error? CONVERT returns #N/A when: 1) Units are incompatible (can't convert miles to kilograms); 2) Unit abbreviation is misspelled or invalid; 3) Unit doesn't exist in Excel's list. Check that both units are from the same category (both length, both weight, etc.). Unit codes are case-sensitive: "m" is meters, "M" is invalid.
How do I convert square or cubic units with CONVERT? Add "2" for square units or "3" for cubic units to the base unit. Examples: =CONVERT(1, "m2", "ft2") converts square meters to square feet. =CONVERT(1, "m3", "l") converts cubic meters to liters. =CONVERT(1, "in2", "cm2") converts square inches to square centimeters. This works for any length unit.

Editorial review

Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.