BCD to Decimal Converter
Convert Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) to human-readable decimal numbers
I like clean numbers. But some systems do not. When I first saw BCD, I thought it was just regular binary. I was wrong. It is not the same. And if you ever need to convert BCD to decimal without losing your mind, this tool is your shortcut.
Paste your Binary-Coded Decimal into the input box, click once, and boom, you get the decimal value instantly.
No calculator needed.
What Is BCD?
BCD stands for Binary-Coded Decimal. It is a way to represent each digit of a decimal number as its own four-bit binary value.
So instead of converting the whole number at once, each digit is handled separately.
Example:
The number 12 in BCD is 0001 0010. That is because:
1 becomes 0001
2 becomes 0010
This format is often used in older digital systems, clocks, electronics, and embedded programming.
What This Tool Does
This tool reads your BCD string, splits it into groups of 4 bits, and converts each group into its decimal digit. It then joins them to form the final decimal number.
Everything happens in your browser. You paste BCD, press convert, and get the result. No need to know binary or count bits manually.
Input and Output Examples
Example 1:
Input: 0001 0010
Output: 12
Example 2:
Input: 0100 0101 0011
Output: 453
Example 3:
Input: 0000 0001 1001
Output: 019
This last example is a bit odd but still valid.
Why Use BCD?
Some systems do not like full binary. They want everything digit by digit.
You will see BCD in:
- Digital watches and clocks
- 7-segment displays
- Embedded microcontrollers
- Early calculators
- Old-school hardware systems
These systems prefer BCD because it is easier to display and store one digit at a time.
How to Use (Step-by-Step)
- Copy your BCD input (like 00010010)
- Paste it into the top box
- Click Convert to Decimal
- Copy the output from the bottom box
- Use it wherever needed
- Click Clear All to try a new value
BCD might feel ancient, but it is still out there. This tool keeps you from having to count bits manually or guess what 0100 0101 really means. Use it when working on hardware tutorials, old calculators, retro games, or just for fun. Paste your BCD, click convert, done.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is BCD?
BCD stands for Binary-Coded Decimal. It stores each decimal digit as a separate 4-bit binary value.
What is the difference between binary and BCD?
Binary encodes the entire number as one binary sequence. BCD encodes each digit separately as 4 bits.
Why use BCD instead of binary?
Because some displays, circuits, or digital devices work better with digits instead of full binary values.
What happens if I enter invalid BCD?
The tool will show an error if you paste anything other than proper 4-bit binary groups.
Can I use this tool offline?
Yes. It works entirely in your browser with no internet connection once loaded.
Does spacing matter in BCD input?
No. The tool removes all spaces automatically before processing.
What if the result has a leading zero?
Leading zeros are preserved in the output to match the input digit count.
Is this tool safe to use?
Yes. Your input never leaves your device. All conversion happens locally.
Can I use this for hexadecimal input?
No. This tool is made only for BCD to Decimal. Use our HEX to Decimal tool instead.
Can I convert decimal to BCD?
Not here. That is a separate tool called Decimal to BCD Converter.