Mastering Excel BIN2DEC Function: Convert Binary to Decimal with Ease [+Examples & VBA]

Looking to change binary numbers to decimal in Excel? The BIN2DEC function is perfect for you! It's great for students, data analysts, and developers. This guide will show you everything you need to know about Excel's BIN2DEC function.

In this blog post, you'll learn:

What the BIN2DEC function does
The syntax of BIN2DEC
Practical examples
How to use BIN2DEC in Excel VBA
Pro tips for troubleshooting errors

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

🔍 What Is BIN2DEC in Excel?

BIN2DEC is a built-in Excel function. It changes a binary number (base 2) into a decimal number (base 10).

📌 Syntax:

=BIN2DEC(number)

📘 Parameters:

number: A binary number (as text) that you want to convert to a decimal.

✅ BIN2DEC Function: Basic Examples

Here are a few practical examples you can try directly in Excel.

🔹 Example 1: Simple Binary to Decimal

=BIN2DEC("1010")

Result: 10
(1010 in binary equals 10 in decimal.)

🔹 Example 2: Binary with Leading Zeros

=BIN2DEC("00011001")

Result: 25
(Leading zeros are ignored.)

🔹 Example 3: Binary with Negative Value

=BIN2DEC("11111111")

Result: -1
(Excel uses two's complement for binary numbers > 10 bits.)

🛠 Pro Tips for Using BIN2DEC

Excel only accepts up to 10-bit binary numbers, including the sign bit.
If you input a binary number longer than 10 bits, you'll get a #NUM! error.
Always wrap binary numbers in quotes (e.g., "1101") to ensure they're interpreted correctly.

💡 Use Case Example: Convert a List of Binary Numbers to Decimal

Let’s say you have a list of binary numbers in column A (from A2 to A10). You can convert them all using:

=BIN2DEC(A2)

Drag the formula down to convert the entire list.

🧑‍💻 How to Use BIN2DEC in Excel VBA

Want to automate the conversion using VBA? Here’s a simple VBA macro.

🔧 VBA Code Example:

Sub ConvertBinaryToDecimal()
    Dim rng As Range
    Dim cell As Range

    ' Set the range containing binary numbers
    Set rng = Range("A2:A10")
    
    ' Loop through each cell
    For Each cell In rng
        If IsNumeric(Application.WorksheetFunction.Bin2Dec(cell.Value)) Then
            cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = Application.WorksheetFunction.Bin2Dec(cell.Value)
        Else
            cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = "Invalid"
        End If
    Next cell
End Sub

📝 How It Works:

Reads binary values from Column A
Converts them to decimal using Bin2Dec
Outputs the decimal value in Column B

🧠 Final Thoughts

The BIN2DEC function in Excel is essential for anyone working with binary data. It simplifies conversions and automates tasks with VBA. Mastering this function saves time and reduces errors in your work.

💬 Got questions about binary conversions in Excel or VBA?

Leave a comment below or reach out for custom Excel training.

📎 Related Resources

Excel DEC2BIN Function – Decimal to Binary
Top 10 Excel Engineering Functions You Should Know
Automate Excel with VBA: Complete Beginner Guide