Hex to Decimal Converter Formula

Understand the math behind the hex to decimal converter. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Hex to Decimal Converter

Formulas Used

Decimal Value

decimal = h3 * 4096 + h2 * 256 + h1 * 16 + h0

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
h3Hex Digit 3 (4096s)0
h2Hex Digit 2 (256s)0
h1Hex Digit 1 (16s)15
h0Hex Digit 0 (1s)15

How It Works

Hex to Decimal Converter

How It Works

Hexadecimal (base-16) uses digits 0-9 and A-F (where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15). Enter the numeric value of each hex digit (0-15).

Each position represents a power of 16:

  • Digit 0: 16^0 = 1
  • Digit 1: 16^1 = 16
  • Digit 2: 16^2 = 256
  • Digit 3: 16^3 = 4096

    • Worked Example

    Convert hex 00FF (0, 0, 15, 15) to decimal.

    h3 = 0h2 = 0h1 = 15h0 = 15
    1. 010×4096 + 0×256 + 15×16 + 15×1
    2. 02= 0 + 0 + 240 + 15
    3. 03= 255 in decimal

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the hex digits?

    Hexadecimal uses 16 digits: 0-9 for values 0-9, and A-F for values 10-15. Enter the numeric value (0-15) for each position.

    Why is hexadecimal used in computing?

    Hexadecimal is compact and maps neatly to binary: each hex digit represents exactly 4 binary bits. It is commonly used for memory addresses, color codes, and byte values.

    Learn More

    Guide

    Data Storage Units Guide: Bits, Bytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, and Beyond

    Understand data storage units from bits to yottabytes. Learn the difference between decimal and binary prefixes, how to convert between units, and practical storage guidance.

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