A number system is a systematic way to represent numbers with symbolic characters and uses a base value to conveniently group numbers in compact form. The most common number system is decimal, which has a base value of 10, and a symbolic character set of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. However, there are other number systems, and they can be more efficient to use for a specific purpose. For example, because computers use Boolean logic to perform calculations and operations, they use the binary number system, which has a base value of 2.
Microsoft Office Excel has several functions that you can use to convert numbers to and from the following number systems:
| Number system |
Base value |
Symbolic character set |
| Binary |
2 |
0,1 |
| Octal |
8 |
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
| Decimal |
10 |
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 |
| Hexadecimal |
16 |
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F |
What do you want to do?
Convert a binary number to decimal
Convert a binary number to hexadecimal
Convert a binary number to octal
Converts a decimal number to binary
Convert a decimal number to hexadecimal
Convert a decimal number to octal
Convert a hexadecimal number to binary
Convert a hexadecimal number to decimal
Convert a hexadecimal number to octal
Convert an octal number to binary
Convert an octal number to decimal
Convert an octal number to hexadecimal
Convert a binary number to decimal
To do this task, use the BIN2DEC function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =BIN2DEC(1100100) |
Converts binary 1100100 to decimal (100) |
| =BIN2DEC(1111111111) |
Converts binary 1111111111 to decimal (-1) |
|
Function details
BIN2DEC
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Convert a binary number to hexadecimal
To do this task, use the BIN2HEX function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =BIN2HEX(11111011, 4) |
Converts binary 11111011 to hexadecimal with 4 characters (00FB) |
| =BIN2HEX(1110) |
Converts binary 1110 to hexadecimal (E) |
| =BIN2HEX(1111111111) |
Converts binary 1111111111 to hexadecimal (FFFFFFFFFF) |
|
Function details
BIN2HEX
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Convert a binary number to octal
To do this task, use the BIN2OCT function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =BIN2OCT(1001, 3) |
Converts binary 1001 to octal with 3 characters (011) |
| =BIN2OCT(1100100) |
Converts binary 1100100 to octal (144) |
| =BIN2OCT(1111111111) |
Converts binary 1111111111 to octal (7777777777) |
|
Function details
BIN2OCT
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Converts a decimal number to binary
To do this task, use the DEC2BIN function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =DEC2BIN(9, 4) |
Converts decimal 9 to binary with 4 characters (1001) |
| =DEC2BIN(-100) |
Converts decimal -100 to binary (1110011100) |
|
Function details
DEC2BIN
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Convert a decimal number to hexadecimal
To do this task, use the DEC2HEX function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =DEC2HEX(100, 4) |
Converts decimal 100 to hexadecimal with 4 characters (0064) |
| =DEC2HEX(-54) |
Converts decimal -54 to hexadecimal (FFFFFFFFCA) |
|
Function details
DEC2HEX
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Convert a decimal number to octal
To do this task, use the DEC2OCT function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =DEC2OCT(58, 3) |
Converts decimal 58 to octal (072) |
| =DEC2OCT(-100) |
Converts decimal to octal (7777777634) |
|
Function details
DEC2OCT
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Convert a hexadecimal number to binary
To do this task, use the HEX2BIN function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =HEX2BIN("F", 8) |
Converts hexadecimal F to binary, with 8 characters (00001111) |
| =HEX2BIN("B7") |
Converts hexadecimal B7 to binary (10110111) |
| =HEX2BIN("FFFFFFFFFF") |
Converts hexadecimal FFFFFFFFFF to binary (1111111111) |
|
Function details
HEX2BIN
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Convert a hexadecimal number to decimal
To do this task, use the HEX2DEC function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =HEX2DEC("A5") |
Converts hexadecimal A5 to decimal (165) |
| =HEX2DEC("FFFFFFFF5B") |
Converts hexadecimal FFFFFFFF5B to decimal (-165) |
| =HEX2DEC("3DA408B9") |
Converts hexadecimal 3DA408B9 to decimal (1034160313) |
|
Function details
HEX2DEC
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Convert a hexadecimal number to octal
To do this task, use the HEX2OCT function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =HEX2OCT("F", 3) |
Converts hexadecimal F to octal with 3 characters (017) |
| =HEX2OCT("3B4E") |
Converts hexadecimal 3B4E to octal (35516) |
| =HEX2OCT("FFFFFFFF00") |
Converts hexadecimal FFFFFFFF00 to octal (7777777400) |
|
Function details
HEX2OCT
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Convert an octal number to binary
To do this task, use the OCT2BIN function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =OCT2BIN(3, 3) |
Converts octal 3 to binary with 3 characters (011) |
| =OCT2BIN(7777777000) |
Converts octal 7777777000 to binary (1000000000) |
|
Function details
OCT2BIN
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Convert an octal number to decimal
To do this task, use the OCT2DEC function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =OCT2DEC(54) |
Converts octal 54 to decimal (44) |
| =OCT2DEC(7777777533) |
Converts octal 7777777533 to decimal (-165) |
|
Function details
OCT2DEC
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Convert an octal number to hexadecimal
To do this task, use the OCT2HEX function.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How to copy an example
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- Select the example in the Help topic.
Note Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =OCT2HEX(100, 4) |
Converts octal number 100 to hexadecimal with 4 characters (0040) |
| =OCT2HEX(7777777533) |
Converts octal number 7777777533 to hexadecimal (FFFFFFFF5B) |
|
Function details
OCT2HEX
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