How to Convert Hex and Other Bases to Decimal in Excel

DECIMAL reads hex, binary or base-36 text as an ordinary number — for sensor logs, device IDs and compact codes.

You will learn to

• Read a hex sensor value
• Decode a base-36 device code
• Average a column of hex readings in one formula

How it works

DECIMAL(text, radix) converts a number written in another base into an ordinary decimal number: =DECIMAL("FF",16) is 255, =DECIMAL("1010",2) is 10 and =DECIMAL("ZZ",36) is 1295. It is not case-sensitive and accepts any radix from 2 to 36.

IoT devices and logs often report values in hex. Convert them with DECIMAL, then apply the device’s scale (for example ÷ 10 for tenths of a degree). DECIMAL also works on whole ranges inside SUMPRODUCT, so you can total or average a column of hex readings without a helper column.

=DECIMAL(C2,16)/10