Hex to BCD Converter

What is Hexadecimal Number System?

Hexadecimal (often shortened to hex) is a base-16 number system that uses 16 symbols:

• Numbers 0–9 represent values 0 to 9
• Letters A–F represent values 10 to 15

It is widely used in computer science, programming, networking, and digital electronics to represent memory addresses, colors (like #FFFFFF in HTML), and binary-coded values in a compact form.

What is Binary Coded Decimal (BCD)?

BCD is a binary encoding method where each decimal digit (0-9) is individually represented by its 4-bit binary equivalent. Unlike standard binary which converts the entire number as a whole, BCD encodes each digit separately, making it easy to convert between binary and decimal displays.

For example: The hex value 2F = decimal 47 → BCD:

4 → 0100, 7 → 0111 = 0100 0111

BCD is commonly used in digital clocks, calculators, financial systems, and embedded systems where precise decimal representation is critical.

How to Use the Hex to BCD Converter?

• Enter Hex Number: Type or paste your hexadecimal value into the input box. You can also use the quick action buttons
  • 📋 Copy: Copy input data
  • 🔄 Clear: Reset the input box
  • 📄 Paste: Paste from clipboard
• Automatic Conversion: The tool will auto-convert hexadecimal to BCD instantly since Auto Update is enabled by default.
• Manual Conversion (Optional): Uncheck Auto Update and click the Convert to BCD button if you prefer manual conversion.
• View BCD Output: See the converted BCD value in the output box. You can also use quick actions:
  • 📋 Copy: Copy the BCD result

HEX to BCD Table

Shown below is the conversion table for hexadecimal to BCD.

Use Cases of Hex to BCD Conversion

Converting hexadecimal to BCD is essential in many technical and practical fields. Here are some common use cases:

• Digital Displays: BCD is the standard encoding for 7-segment LED and LCD displays in clocks, meters, and calculators.
• Financial Computing: BCD avoids floating-point rounding errors, making it ideal for currency and accounting calculations.
• Embedded Systems: Microcontrollers and real-time clocks (RTCs) often store time values in BCD format.
• Digital Electronics: Used in ALUs and circuits that process decimal arithmetic.
• Telecommunications: BCD is used in DTMF tone encoding and telephony protocols.
• Legacy Systems: Many mainframe and industrial systems use BCD encoding for data storage and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a Hex to BCD Converter?

A Hex to BCD Converter is a free online tool that instantly translates hexadecimal (base-16) values into Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) format. It saves time by eliminating manual calculations.

Where is BCD used in real life?

BCD is widely used in digital electronics, embedded systems, financial computing, digital clocks, calculators, and applications where precise decimal representation in binary form is critical.

Why do engineers convert hex to BCD?

Engineers convert hexadecimal to BCD for interfacing with 7-segment displays, real-time clocks (RTCs), financial systems, and any application requiring exact decimal digit representation in binary.

How do you manually convert hexadecimal to BCD?

First convert the hex value to decimal, then encode each decimal digit individually as a 4-bit binary number. For example, hex 2F = decimal 47 = BCD 0100 0111.

Can I use a hex to BCD converter for large numbers?

Yes, this hex to BCD converter uses BigInt to handle very large hexadecimal values without any precision loss.

What is the difference between BCD and plain binary?

In BCD, each decimal digit is encoded separately as a 4-bit binary value, whereas plain binary represents the entire number as one binary sequence. BCD is less space-efficient but easier to convert to/from decimal displays.