The CONVERT function with example in Excel

The CONVERT function in Excel is used to convert a number from one measurement unit to another. This function is especially useful when dealing with various unit systems in data analysis or calculations.

Syntax

excel
CONVERT(number, from_unit, to_unit)

• number: The value you want to convert.
• from_unit: The unit of the number you want to convert from.
• to_unit: The unit of the number you want to convert to.

Example

Suppose you want to convert 10 meters to feet.

1. Basic Usage:
   • Formula: =CONVERT(10, "m", "ft")
   • Result: 32.8084
   • Explanation: 10 meters is approximately 32.8084 feet.

Units for Conversion

Here are some common units that can be used with the CONVERT function:

• Length: meters ("m"), kilometers ("km"), inches ("in"), feet ("ft"), yards ("yd"), miles ("mi")
• Weight: grams ("g"), kilograms ("kg"), pounds ("lbm"), ounces ("ozm")
• Volume: liters ("l"), milliliters ("ml"), gallons ("gal"), fluid ounces ("oz")
• Temperature: Celsius ("C"), Fahrenheit ("F"), Kelvin ("K")
• Time: seconds ("sec"), minutes ("min"), hours ("hr"), days ("day")

Practical Example

Example 1: Converting Kilograms to Pounds

1. In cell A1, enter: 5
2. To convert 5 kilograms to pounds, use the formula:

   excel
   =CONVERT(A1, "kg", "lbm")
   

3. Result: 11.0231
   • Explanation: 5 kilograms is approximately 11.0231 pounds.

Example 2: Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit

1. In cell A1, enter: 25
2. To convert 25 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit, use the formula:

   excel
   =CONVERT(A1, "C", "F")
   

3. Result: 77
   • Explanation: 25 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Example 3: Converting Liters to Gallons

1. In cell A1, enter: 3.5
2. To convert 3.5 liters to gallons, use the formula:

   excel
   =CONVERT(A1, "l", "gal")
   

3. Result: 0.924602
   • Explanation: 3.5 liters is approximately 0.924602 gallons.

Step-by-Step Example

Scenario: Converting Multiple Units of Length

Suppose you have a list of lengths in meters and you want to convert them to feet.

1. Input Data:

   • In cell A1, enter: 1
   • In cell A2, enter: 5
   • In cell A3, enter: 10

2. Conversion Formula:

   • In cell B1, enter the formula:

     excel
     =CONVERT(A1, "m", "ft")
     

   • Drag the fill handle from B1 to B3 to apply the formula to other cells.

3. Results:

   • B1: 3.28084 (1 meter is approximately 3.28084 feet)
   • B2: 16.4042 (5 meters is approximately 16.4042 feet)
   • B3: 32.8084 (10 meters is approximately 32.8084 feet)

Common Conversions

Converting Inches to Centimeters

• Formula: =CONVERT(12, "in", "cm")
• Result: 30.48

Converting Miles to Kilometers

• Formula: =CONVERT(5, "mi", "km")
• Result: 8.04672

Converting Pounds to Kilograms

• Formula: =CONVERT(10, "lbm", "kg")
• Result: 4.53592

These examples demonstrate how the CONVERT function can be used to handle a variety of unit conversions in Excel, making it a powerful tool for dealing with diverse data sets.