Syntax
DEC2BIN(number, [places])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the DEC2BIN function. |
| [places] | (Optional.) Parameter of the DEC2BIN function. |
Examples
Basic conversion
Formula
=DEC2BIN(10)
'1010'. The decimal number 10 equals 1010 in binary (8+2).
With leading zeros
Formula
=DEC2BIN(10, 8)
'00001010'. Pads the result to 8 digits with leading zeros — standard byte representation.
Negative number (two's complement)
Formula
=DEC2BIN(-1)
'1111111111'. Negative numbers are represented in 10-bit two's complement format.
Common Errors
#NUM!
The number is outside the valid range (-512 to 511), or the places argument is too small to hold the result.
#VALUE!
The argument is non-numeric, or places is negative or non-integer.
Tips
Result is text, not a number
DEC2BIN returns a text string, not a number. '1010' is text representing binary, not the decimal one thousand and ten.
Range is -512 to 511
DEC2BIN handles 10-bit signed integers. For larger numbers, you'll need a custom conversion formula or VBA.
Pad to 8 bits for byte display
Use the places argument (=DEC2BIN(n, 8)) to always show 8-digit binary, which is standard for byte-level work.
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