Syntax
BITLSHIFT(number, shift_amount)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the BITLSHIFT function. |
| shift_amount | Parameter of the BITLSHIFT function. |
Examples
Shift left by 2
Formula
=BITLSHIFT(4, 2)
16. Binary 100 shifted left 2 positions becomes 10000 (decimal 16). Equivalent to 4 * 2^2 = 16.
Multiply by 8 using shifts
Formula
=BITLSHIFT(5, 3)
40. Shifting left by 3 multiplies by 2^3 = 8. So 5 * 8 = 40.
Create a bit mask
Formula
=BITLSHIFT(1, 7)
128. Shifts a single 1 bit to position 7, creating the bit mask 10000000 (128). Useful for setting or testing individual bits.
Common Errors
#NUM!
The number is negative, the shift amount exceeds 53, or the result exceeds 2^48 - 1.
#VALUE!
An argument is non-numeric.
Tips
Left shift = multiply by power of 2
BITLSHIFT(n, k) is equivalent to n * 2^k. This is faster in computing but equivalent in a spreadsheet — use whichever is clearer.
Create bit masks
BITLSHIFT(1, N) creates a mask with only bit N set. Use this with BITAND to test specific bits, or BITOR to set them.
Overflow caution
If the shift pushes bits beyond the 48-bit limit, you'll get a #NUM! error. Check that your number * 2^shift stays within range.
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