What is the syntax for DEGREES in Excel?

The syntax for DEGREES is: =DEGREES(angle)

How do I display the result of ATAN in degrees?

Wrap ATAN in DEGREES: =DEGREES(ATAN(1)) returns 45 (degrees). All inverse trig functions (ASIN, ACOS, ATAN, ATAN2) return radians, so use DEGREES to convert for human-readable output.

What is the formula DEGREES uses?

DEGREES multiplies radians by 180/π. So =DEGREES(PI()) = π × 180/π = 180. You could write =angle*180/PI() instead, but DEGREES is cleaner. One radian ≈ 57.2958 degrees.

When should I use DEGREES vs RADIANS?

Use RADIANS when preparing input for trig functions (SIN, COS, TAN). Use DEGREES when displaying results from inverse trig functions (ASIN, ACOS, ATAN) or when you need human-readable angle output.

Math & Trig

DEGREES Function in Excel

Converts radians to degrees.

Syntax

=DEGREES(angle)

Arguments

angle (required): Angle in radians to convert

Examples

=DEGREES(PI()) - Pi radians in degrees - Result: 180
=DEGREES(1) - 1 radian in degrees - Result: 57.29...

DEGREES in reporting workflows

Use absolute references when copying formulas across rows.
For conditional totals see [SUMIF](/functions/sumif/) and [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/).
Filtered lists may need [SUBTOTAL](/functions/subtotal/) instead of SUM on visible cells only.

Common errors

None common

Use cases

Angle display
Trig result conversion
Navigation

Frequently asked questions

How do I display the result of ATAN in degrees? Wrap ATAN in DEGREES: =DEGREES(ATAN(1)) returns 45 (degrees). All inverse trig functions (ASIN, ACOS, ATAN, ATAN2) return radians, so use DEGREES to convert for human-readable output.
What is the formula DEGREES uses? DEGREES multiplies radians by 180/π. So =DEGREES(PI()) = π × 180/π = 180. You could write =angle*180/PI() instead, but DEGREES is cleaner. One radian ≈ 57.2958 degrees.
When should I use DEGREES vs RADIANS? Use RADIANS when preparing input for trig functions (SIN, COS, TAN). Use DEGREES when displaying results from inverse trig functions (ASIN, ACOS, ATAN) or when you need human-readable angle output.

Editorial review

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