How to Convert Temperatures with CONVERT in Excel

Convert kitchen and lab temperature readings between Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin, using unit codes stored in cells.

You will learn to

• Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
• Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
• Read the units from cells for a reusable converter

How it works

CONVERT handles temperature scales with the codes "F", "C" and "K": =CONVERT(39.2,"F","C") returns 4. Unlike weights and lengths, temperatures need an offset as well as a scale, and CONVERT takes care of both.

The unit arguments can be cell references instead of typed text. Store the unit of each reading in its own column and =CONVERT(B4,C4,D4) becomes a converter that works for any row, whatever scale each instrument reports in.

=CONVERT(B2,"F","C")