BASE
Converts a number into a text representation with the given radix (base), optionally padded with leading zeros to a minimum length.
BASE(number, radix, [min_length])Arguments
numberThe non-negative integer to convert (0 to 2^53 − 1).radixThe base radix to convert to (2 to 36).min_lengthOptional. Minimum length of the resulting string (0 to 255), padded with leading zeros.(optional)
=BASE(15,2)15 in binary
=BASE(255,16)255 in hexadecimal
=BASE(7,2,8)Binary padded to 8 chars
- •Available since Excel 2013
- •Returns #NUM! if number, radix or min_length is out of range
- •Use DECIMAL() to convert back from a base-N string to a number
- •Forgetting that BASE's output is text, not a number, so leading zeros (from min_length) are preserved and the result can't be used directly in arithmetic without conversion
- •Passing a radix outside the valid 2-36 range, which returns a #NUM! error since BASE only supports number systems representable with digits 0-9 and letters A-Z
- •Confusing BASE with DECIMAL - BASE converts a decimal number into another base as text, while DECIMAL does the reverse, converting base-N text back into a decimal number
DECIMALPerforms the reverse operation - converts a base-N text string back into a decimal number, undoing what BASE produces.DEC2BINConverts specifically to binary with its own set of limitations, a more specialized alternative to BASE's general-purpose any-radix conversion.DEC2HEXConverts specifically to hexadecimal, another specialized alternative to BASE for a single fixed target radix.Why does BASE return a #NUM! error?
The radix is likely outside the valid range of 2 to 36, or the number or min_length arguments are out of their allowed bounds - double-check each argument against BASE's limits.
Can I use BASE's output in a calculation?
Not directly - BASE returns text, not a number, particularly important when min_length adds leading zeros that would otherwise be dropped in a numeric context.
How do I convert a number back from a different base to decimal?
Use DECIMAL(text, radix), the inverse function - it takes text in a given base and returns the equivalent decimal number.
Need to translate a formula using BASE?
Use our translator to convert your complete formula