Engineering

HEX2DEC Function in Excel

Converts a hexadecimal number to decimal.

Syntax

  • =HEX2DEC(number)

Arguments

  • number (required): Hexadecimal number

Examples

  • =HEX2DEC("A5") - Hex to decimal - Result: 165

HEX2DEC in technical sheets

  • Document units in adjacent cells — many engineering functions require exact unit strings.
  • Use [CONVERT](/functions/convert/) for unit changes before specialized formulas.
  • Validate inputs with [ISNUMBER](/functions/isnumber/) and range checks.

Common errors

  • #NUM! if not valid hex

Use cases

  • Color conversion
  • Memory addresses
  • Programming

Frequently asked questions

  • How do I convert hex color codes to RGB? Split the hex code and convert each pair: R=HEX2DEC(MID(A1,2,2)), G=HEX2DEC(MID(A1,4,2)), B=HEX2DEC(MID(A1,6,2)). For "#FF8000": R=255, G=128, B=0 (orange).
  • Can HEX2DEC handle lowercase letters? Yes! HEX2DEC is case-insensitive. HEX2DEC("ff"), HEX2DEC("FF"), and HEX2DEC("Ff") all return 255. No need to convert case before using the function.
  • What is the maximum hex value HEX2DEC can convert? HEX2DEC handles up to 10 hex characters, max value FFFFFFFFFF (1,099,511,627,775). For negative numbers, 10-character values starting with 8-F are treated as negative (two's complement).

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.

When to use HEX2DEC

  • Color conversion — common Engineering scenario for HEX2DEC.
  • Memory addresses — common Engineering scenario for HEX2DEC.
  • Programming — common Engineering scenario for HEX2DEC.

HEX2DEC in the Engineering category

  • Browse all Engineering functions at /categories/engineering/ for related formulas.
  • HEX2DEC syntax: =HEX2DEC(number)
  • number (required): Hexadecimal number
  • Confirm HEX2DEC arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.

Formula checklist before you copy down

  • Confirm HEX2DEC arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.
  • If results look wrong, check for text stored as numbers and invisible spaces with TRIM.
  • Spot-check three known input rows manually against expected output.

Related Excel functions

  • DEC2HEX (/functions/dec2hex/): Converts a decimal number to hexadecimal.
  • HEX2BIN (/functions/hex2bin/): Converts a hexadecimal number to binary.
  • HEX2OCT (/functions/hex2oct/): Converts a hexadecimal number to octal.

Errors to watch for

  • #NUM! if not valid hex — review causes on linked error pages in the directory.

Copy-paste audit workflow

  • Enter HEX2DEC on three test rows with known expected output documented on a QA tab.
  • Fill down only after absolute references are locked on lookup tables and rate tables.
  • Compare against manual calculation or a calculator for financial and statistical functions.
  • Search this directory for comparison guides when choosing between similar functions in the same category.

HEX2DEC worked examples to copy

  • =HEX2DEC("A5") — Hex to decimal. Expected result: 165.

HEX2DEC reference summary for crawlers and offline review

  • HEX2DEC belongs to the Engineering category in Excel. Converts a hexadecimal number to decimal.
  • Full syntax: =HEX2DEC(number). Open /functions/hex2dec/ for parameters, FAQs, and related pages.
  • Common mistakes: #NUM! if not valid hex
  • Pair this function with comparison guides when another Excel formula might fit the same task better.
  • Review fix-excel-formula-errors when unexpected errors appear after upgrading Excel or sharing across locales.