Hex to Binary Converter

Paste one or more hexadecimal values and get their exact binary (base-2) representation, padded to a full set of 4 bits per hex digit.

What is the Hex to Binary Converter?

The Hex to Binary Converter expands hexadecimal values back into strings of 0s and 1s. Each hex digit is worth exactly 4 bits, and the output is padded so every hex digit you entered is represented by a full 4-bit group, matching how binary is grouped in datasheets and networking references.

How It Works

Each value is validated as hex (an optional 0x prefix is stripped automatically), parsed as a base-16 big integer, and converted to binary. The result is then padded with leading zeros so its length is exactly 4 times the number of hex digits entered, preserving the natural 4-bit grouping instead of trimming meaningful leading zeros.

Real-World Use Case

Reading a subnet mask written in hex, like FFFFFF00, is much easier once it's expanded to binary — 11111111 11111111 11111111 00000000 — where you can immediately count how many leading 1 bits define the network portion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the output keep leading zeros?

Because each hex digit represents exactly 4 bits, padding preserves that grouping — converting F to 1111 instead of trimming it to a shorter binary string that would lose the digit-to-nibble correspondence.

Do I need to strip the 0x prefix before pasting?

No, values with or without a leading 0x or 0X convert to the same result — the prefix is detected and removed automatically.

Can I convert a batch of hex values at once?

Yes. Enter each value on its own line or separated by spaces, and every one is converted independently in the result box.

Have binary and need hex instead? The reverse converter handles that direction. Looking for the reverse? Try the Binary to Hex Converter →