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How Do You Make Excel Calculate in Degrees

Reviewed by Calculator Editorial Team

Excel defaults to radians for trigonometric functions, but many calculations in physics, engineering, and everyday life use degrees. This guide explains how to configure Excel to work with degrees and provides a calculator to verify your settings.

Why Calculate in Degrees?

Degrees are commonly used in:

  • Geometry and construction measurements
  • Navigation and compass bearings
  • Temperature scales (though not mathematically)
  • Everyday angle measurements like 90° for right angles

While radians are mathematically elegant for calculus, degrees provide more intuitive results for practical applications.

Excel's Default Setting

By default, Excel's trigonometric functions (SIN, COS, TAN, ASIN, ACOS, ATAN) use radians. This means:

=SIN(1) returns approximately 0.8415 (1 radian ≈ 57.2958°)

To get the same result in degrees, you would need to use:

=SIN(1*PI()/180) ≈ 0.0175

This conversion factor makes calculations cumbersome for degree-based work.

How to Change to Degrees

Method 1: Convert Input Values

For one-time calculations, multiply your degree value by PI()/180:

=SIN(A1*PI()/180)

Where A1 contains your angle in degrees.

Method 2: Change Excel's Angle Mode

To make all trigonometric functions use degrees:

  1. Go to File → Options → Formulas
  2. Under "Workbook calculation", select "Automatic" or "Automatic except for data tables"
  3. Check "Set angle measure to degrees"
  4. Click OK to save changes

This setting applies to the entire workbook. If you share the file, recipients will need to change this setting themselves.

Method 3: Create Custom Functions

For more control, create your own degree-based functions:

=SINDEG(A1)

Where SINDEG is a custom function defined as:

=SIN(A1*PI()/180)

Using Degrees in Trigonometry

Common degree-based calculations include:

Function Degree Formula Radian Equivalent
Sine =SIN(A1*PI()/180) =SIN(A1)
Cosine =COS(A1*PI()/180) =COS(A1)
Tangent =TAN(A1*PI()/180) =TAN(A1)
Arcsine =ASIN(A1)*180/PI() =ASIN(A1)

Remember that inverse trigonometric functions (ASIN, ACOS, ATAN) return values in radians when Excel is in radian mode.

Common Errors to Avoid

  • Mixing degree and radian inputs without conversion
  • Forgetting to convert back to degrees for inverse functions
  • Assuming Excel's default angle mode matches your needs
  • Not verifying your results with a calculator

Always double-check your calculations, especially when working with angles that aren't multiples of 30° or 45°.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the angle mode affect all workbooks?
No, the angle mode setting is specific to each workbook. You'll need to change it separately for each file.
Can I use degrees with the ATAN2 function?
Yes, ATAN2 returns values in radians, so you'll need to multiply by 180/PI() to convert to degrees.
What's the difference between degrees and radians?
A full circle is 360° or 2π radians. Degrees are more intuitive for everyday measurements, while radians are more mathematically convenient.
Can I use degrees with the MOD function?
Yes, the MOD function works with degrees just like any other number. Just remember that 360° is a full rotation.