If you have an Excel spreadsheet containing a column of distances measured in miles, but your international client requires the data in kilometers, you do not need to look up the exact mathematical conversion rate (1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers) and manually multiply every single cell. Instead, you can use Excel’s built-in CONVERT() function to instantly and flawlessly translate hundreds of different measurements.
How the CONVERT Function Works
The CONVERT() function requires three specific pieces of information: the number you want to change, the unit it is currently in, and the unit you want it to become.
The syntax looks like this: =CONVERT(number, "from_unit", "to_unit")
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open your Excel spreadsheet.
- Suppose cell A1 contains the number 50, representing miles.
- Click on an empty cell next to it (like B1) where you want the converted result to appear.
- Begin typing the formula:
=CONVERT(A1, - Excel will instantly display a massive dropdown menu containing all the measurement abbreviations it understands. Scroll down and double-click on the unit you are converting from (in this case, “mi” for Statute Mile). Alternatively, you can just manually type
"mi". - Type a comma
,to proceed to the next step. - Excel will now show a highly filtered dropdown menu containing only the compatible units you can convert to (such as meters, inches, light years, or kilometers). Double-click on the unit you want (e.g., “km”).
- Close the parentheses and press Enter.
The final formula should look like this: =CONVERT(A1, "mi", "km")
Cell B1 will instantly display 80.4672. You can then use the fill handle (the small green square at the bottom right corner of cell B1) to drag the formula down and instantly convert an entire column of data in seconds.
Supported Measurement Categories
The CONVERT() function is incredibly robust. It goes far beyond distance and weight. It natively supports conversions for:
- Temperature: Celsius (“C”) to Fahrenheit (“F”) or Kelvin (“K”).
- Time: Years (“yr”) to days (“day”), hours (“hr”), or seconds (“sec”).
- Information: Bytes (“byte”) to bits (“bit”).
- Speed: Miles per hour (“mph”) to meters per second (“m/s”).