Convert Hex to Binary
Easily translate hex into binary. Enter any base-16 hexadecimal value below to instantly get the base-2 binary equivalent.
Hex to binary converter
Quick Reference
Hex to Binary Chart
This hexadecimal to binary table shows how the 16 base hex digits map directly to 4-bit binary chunks.
| Hexadecimal | Binary (4-bit) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0000 |
| 1 | 0001 |
| 2 | 0010 |
| 3 | 0011 |
| 4 | 0100 |
| 5 | 0101 |
| 6 | 0110 |
| 7 | 0111 |
| 8 | 1000 |
| 9 | 1001 |
| A (10) | 1010 |
| B (11) | 1011 |
| C (12) | 1100 |
| D (13) | 1101 |
| E (14) | 1110 |
| F (15) | 1111 |
Step by Step
How to Convert Hexadecimal to Binary
Performing a conversion of hex to binary is actually much easier than doing standard decimal math.
The Method
Hexadecimal is a base-16 number system, while binary is base-2. Because 16 is a perfect power of 2 (2⁴ = 16), every single hex digit translates exactly into a four-digit chunk of binary code.
To convert hex to binary manually, just swap each letter or number with its 4-bit binary pair from the hex to binary chart above.
Converting Hexadecimal to Binary — Step by Step
Split the hex string
Take the hexadecimal value and break it into individual characters. For example, 2F becomes 2 and F.
Look up the 4-bit values
Match each character to the chart. 2 is 0010, and F is 1111.
Combine the bits
String the binary values together in the same order. 0010 + 1111 = 00101111. You can drop the leading zeros, leaving 101111.
Why It Matters
Why Convert Hex to Binary?
Computers only understand binary (0s and 1s). However, reading long strings of binary like 110101011100 is confusing for humans.
Hexadecimal was created to act as a shorthand. Instead of writing 8 bits (a full byte) as eight separate 0s and 1s, programmers can write it as just two hex characters.
Whenever a programmer needs to see the exact bit-level data of a memory address, network packet, or a color code, they will run a hex to binary conversion to look "under the hood" of the software.
Worked Examples
Sample Hexadecimal to Binary Conversions
Here is how to translate hex to binary for some common values.
B hex in binary
Look at the chart. The letter B represents the number 11. In binary, 11 is 1011.
C hex in binary
The letter C represents 12. Using the 4-bit chart, C converts directly to 1100.
1A in binary
Split it up. 1 = 0001. A = 1010. Combine them to get 00011010. Dropping the front zeros leaves 11010.
FF in binary
Split it up. F = 1111. The second F = 1111. Combine them to get 11111111. (This is exactly 255 in decimal, the max value of one byte).
4D in binary
Split the hex. 4 = 0100. D = 1101. Put them together to get 01001101, which simplifies to 1001101.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about hexadecimal conversion to binary.