Can HEX2DEC convert numbers that include letters?

Yes—that's the whole point of hexadecimal. HEX2DEC("1A") = 26, and HEX2DEC("FF") = 255. Letters must be A–F (representing 10–15); any letter outside that range causes a #VALUE! error.

What's the maximum hexadecimal value HEX2DEC can convert?

HEX2DEC handles up to FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF (9.2 quintillion in decimal). For real-world batch codes and inventory IDs, this limit is almost never reached, so it's not a practical concern.

How do I convert a whole column of hex batch codes to decimal at once?

Enter =HEX2DEC(A1) in a new column (e.g., B1), then copy the formula down to all rows. Excel and Google Sheets will automatically adjust the cell reference for each row (A2, A3, etc.).

Should I use HEX2DEC if my inventory codes are actually decimal, not hexadecimal?

No. HEX2DEC is only for true hexadecimal numbers. If your codes are already in decimal, use them as-is. Using HEX2DEC on a decimal number will give wrong results (e.g., HEX2DEC("20") = 32, not 20).

HEX2DEC function

HEX2DEC converts a hexadecimal number to its decimal equivalent, essential for decoding batch codes and legacy inventory tracking systems.

=HEX2DEC(number)

Generate a HEX2DEC formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for HEX2DEC where HEX2DEC is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

Arguments

How HEX2DEC reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
number	Required	A hexadecimal number as text (0-9, A-F), passed as a string or cell reference; if it contains invalid hex characters or exceeds the function's range, returns an error.

Returns

A decimal integer representing the value of the hexadecimal input.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Convert supplier batch codes from hex to decimal

Ingredient	Supplier	Unit	Qty Code (Hex)	Expiry
Tomato Sauce	Vendor A	Case	1A	2026-03-15
Olive Oil	Vendor B	Bottle	2F	2027-06-20
Basil	Vendor C	Bag	0C	2026-10-01
Mozzarella	Vendor D	Kg	FF	2026-11-15
Pasta	Vendor E	Box	20	2028-01-10

=HEX2DEC("1A")

Result: 26

The hex value 1A equals 26 in decimal (1×16 + 10). When Vendor A ships tomato sauce with batch code '1A', converting it to decimal reveals the actual shipment reference number 26, allowing the restaurant to verify receipt against the supplier's decimal-based manifest.

2. Decode hex-encoded quantities in legacy inventory records

Ingredient	Supplier	Unit	Qty Code (Hex)	Expiry
Tomato Sauce	Vendor A	Case	1A	2026-03-15
Olive Oil	Vendor B	Bottle	2F	2027-06-20
Basil	Vendor C	Bag	0C	2026-10-01
Mozzarella	Vendor D	Kg	FF	2026-11-15
Pasta	Vendor E	Box	20	2028-01-10

=HEX2DEC("FF")

Result: 255

The hex code FF converts to 255 in decimal. The mozzarella's quantity code FF represents 255 kg in the legacy system; converting it ensures the restaurant calculates actual inventory correctly when reconciling stock levels or placing reorders.

3. Sum inventory across multiple hex-encoded shipments

Ingredient	Supplier	Unit	Qty Code (Hex)	Expiry
Tomato Sauce	Vendor A	Case	1A	2026-03-15
Olive Oil	Vendor B	Bottle	2F	2027-06-20
Basil	Vendor C	Bag	0C	2026-10-01
Mozzarella	Vendor D	Kg	FF	2026-11-15
Pasta	Vendor E	Box	20	2028-01-10

=HEX2DEC("2F")+HEX2DEC("20")+HEX2DEC("0C")

Result: 91

Converting each hex code to decimal: 2F=47, 20=32, 0C=12. Adding them together (47+32+12=91) gives the total units across the three items (olive oil, pasta, and basil). This formula is useful for summing hex-encoded quantities when calculating total inventory after multiple deliveries.

Common errors

Which HEX2DEC error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#VALUE!	The input contains invalid hexadecimal characters. Hexadecimal only uses 0–9 and A–F; any other character (like G, Z, or symbols) causes this error. For example, HEX2DEC("1G") fails because 'G' is not a hex digit.	Check the batch code for typos or verify it's stored correctly. If the value in a cell looks wrong, manually inspect the source data or use SUBSTITUTE to clean unwanted characters before conversion.
#NUM!	The hexadecimal number is too large to represent as a decimal integer. HEX2DEC typically supports up to FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF; values beyond this range exceed the function's limit.	For inventory systems, keep batch codes short (e.g., no more than 8 hex digits). If you must handle very large codes, split them into smaller chunks or use a text-based lookup instead of conversion.
#VALUE!	The input is an empty string or blank cell. HEX2DEC cannot convert a null or missing value, so referencing an empty cell returns this error.	Ensure all inventory records have a quantity or batch code. Use =IFERROR(HEX2DEC(A1), 0) to default to zero, or =IF(A1="", "Missing", HEX2DEC(A1)) to flag incomplete entries.

Tips and when to use something else

HEX2DEC is case-insensitive: 'FF', 'ff', and 'Ff' all return 255, so you don't need to standardize batch-code capitalization.
Leading zeros don't affect the result—'0FF' and 'FF' both convert to 255, helpful when batch codes have fixed widths.
For automatic conversion of entire columns, copy the formula down: put =HEX2DEC(A1) in B1, then drag to B100 to convert all rows at once.
If you need the opposite (decimal to hex), use DEC2HEX; or combine HEX2DEC with bitwise functions like BITAND and BITOR if the hex code encodes multiple bit flags in your inventory system.

Related functions

DEC2HEXDEC2HEX converts decimal numbers to hexadecimal text format, useful for encoding inventory IDs or converting numeric values for data interchange.BIN2DECConverts a binary number (base 2) represented as a text string to its equivalent decimal (base 10) numeric value.OCT2DECConverts an octal (base-8) number to its decimal (base-10) equivalent for database lookups and numeric conversions.CONVERTConverts numbers between compatible units of measurement like meters to feet, kilograms to pounds, and Celsius to Fahrenheit.

Frequently asked questions

Can HEX2DEC convert numbers that include letters?: Yes—that's the whole point of hexadecimal. HEX2DEC("1A") = 26, and HEX2DEC("FF") = 255. Letters must be A–F (representing 10–15); any letter outside that range causes a #VALUE! error.
What's the maximum hexadecimal value HEX2DEC can convert?: HEX2DEC handles up to FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF (9.2 quintillion in decimal). For real-world batch codes and inventory IDs, this limit is almost never reached, so it's not a practical concern.
How do I convert a whole column of hex batch codes to decimal at once?: Enter =HEX2DEC(A1) in a new column (e.g., B1), then copy the formula down to all rows. Excel and Google Sheets will automatically adjust the cell reference for each row (A2, A3, etc.).
Should I use HEX2DEC if my inventory codes are actually decimal, not hexadecimal?: No. HEX2DEC is only for true hexadecimal numbers. If your codes are already in decimal, use them as-is. Using HEX2DEC on a decimal number will give wrong results (e.g., HEX2DEC("20") = 32, not 20).

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Reviewed 2026-09-17