Hex to Decimal Converter

What is Hex to Decimal Conversion?

Hex to decimal conversion changes a base-16 number (hexadecimal) into its base-10 equivalent (decimal). Hexadecimal uses sixteen digit symbols — 0-9 plus the letters A-F, where A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, and F=15 — while decimal uses only 0-9. This conversion comes up when reading color codes, memory addresses, and other data conventionally shown in hex.

For example, hexadecimal 2A equals decimal 42: 2×16¹ + A×16⁰ = 2×16 + 10×1 = 32 + 10 = 42. To convert the other direction, use the Decimal to Hex Converter. For the related base-2 conversion, see Hex to Binary.

How to Convert Hex to Decimal Manually

The standard manual method uses base-16 positional notation:

Worked example: convert 2A to decimal

2A₁₆

Position:  1   0
Hex digit: 2   A

2 × 16¹ = 2 × 16  = 32
A × 16⁰ = 10 × 1  = 10

32 + 10 = 42

Result: 2A₁₆ = 42₁₀

Manual multiplication works for short hex strings, but it is easy to make an arithmetic error on longer numbers — the converter above returns the exact result for any size of input. For a fuller walkthrough with more worked examples, see How to Convert Hex to Decimal: Formula, Steps & Examples.

Hex Digit Reference (0-9, A-F)

Hexadecimal is base 16, so each digit position can hold sixteen possible values. Hex 0-9 use the same digits as decimal; hex A-F use letters for decimal values 10-15.

Hex to Decimal Conversion Table

A quick reference for common hexadecimal values and their decimal equivalent:

Where Hex to Decimal Conversion Is Used

• Color codes: CSS/HTML colors such as #FF5733 are three hex byte pairs for red, green, and blue — converting each pair to decimal gives the RGB values.
• Memory addresses: debuggers and operating systems display addresses in hex; converting to decimal helps with size and offset calculations.
• Programming: hex literals in code (such as 0xFF) are easier to reason about once converted to their decimal value.
• Networking: MAC addresses and IPv6 segments are written in hex and sometimes need decimal conversion for analysis.
• Data and hash digests: hexadecimal dumps and hash values can be converted to decimal for comparison or calculation.

For the related base-8 conversion, see the Octal to Decimal Converter.

Negative Numbers and Two's Complement

This converter accepts hexadecimal integers without a sign. Simply writing a minus sign in front of a hex string (for example, -A) isn't how computers represent negative numbers, and it isn't a fixed, unambiguous format on its own.

Machines represent negative numbers using two's complement, which requires choosing a fixed bit width (such as 8, 16, or 32 bits) before the value's sign can be determined. Use the Two's Complement Calculator to interpret a signed hex value at a specific bit width.

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Frequently Asked Questions