Decimal to Ternary Converter
Type a decimal number of any length to see it in ternary, with every step of the working.
Decimal to ternary table
| Decimal | Ternary |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 10 |
| 4 | 11 |
| 5 | 12 |
| 7 | 21 |
| 8 | 22 |
| 10 | 101 |
| 15 | 120 |
| 16 | 121 |
| 32 | 1012 |
| 64 | 2101 |
| 100 | 10201 |
| 127 | 11201 |
| 128 | 11202 |
| 255 | 100110 |
| 256 | 100111 |
| 1000 | 1101001 |
| 1024 | 1101221 |
Worked examples
10 in ternary
10 (decimal)
101 (ternary)
Decimal value 10.
255 in ternary
255 (decimal)
100110 (ternary)
Decimal value 255.
2026 in ternary
2026 (decimal)
2210001 (ternary)
Decimal value 2026.
About Decimal to Ternary Converter
This converter turns decimal numbers into ternary and shows how. To convert decimal to ternary, divide the number by 3 again and again, writing down each remainder, then read the remainders from last to first. For example, 10 in decimal is 101 in ternary, and 2026 is 2210001.
Decimal is the base 10 system we count in every day, with place values of ones, tens, hundreds and so on. Ternary, or base 3, uses the digits 0, 1 and 2. It is rare in computing, though the Soviet Setun computer of 1958 used a balanced form of it, and it turns up often in maths puzzles. Numbers of any length are converted exactly, because the tool works with whole numbers digit by digit instead of rounding.
How to use Decimal to Ternary Converter
- Type or paste a decimal number into the first box. Spaces, underscores and prefixes such as 0x are ignored.
- Read the ternary result straight away in the second box.
- Look at the working table to see each step of the method.
- Copy the result, or use the swap button to convert ternary back to decimal.
Common uses
- Maths puzzles such as the balance scale weighing problem
- Learning how number bases work beyond binary
- Reading about the Setun ternary computer built in 1958
- Coding exercises and competitions
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert decimal to ternary by hand?
Divide the number by 3 again and again, writing down each remainder, then read the remainders from last to first. The working table on this page shows exactly these steps for the number you type.
What is 255 in ternary?
255 in decimal is 100110 in ternary. In decimal it is 255, the largest number that fits in one byte.
What is 2026 in ternary?
2026 in decimal is 2210001 in ternary.
Can it convert very large numbers?
Yes. Whole numbers with up to 4,096 digits are converted exactly. The working table shows the first rows when a number is very long.
Does it handle fractions or negative numbers?
Negative whole numbers are converted with their minus sign kept. Fractions are not supported, because many fractions that end in one base repeat for ever in another.