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BITLSHIFT Function
Summary
The BITLSHIFT function performs a left binary shift on a number by the specified number of bits, effectively multiplying the number by 2 raised to the power of the shift amount. This is a powerful bitwise operation for advanced numerical computations in Excel.
Syntax
BITLSHIFT(number, shift_amount)Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| number | Number |
Yes | The non-negative integer to shift left |
| shift_amount | Number |
Yes | Number of positions to shift the bits left |
Using the BITLSHIFT Function
BITLSHIFT is ideal for bit-level programming, performance optimization, and mathematical algorithms that require efficient multiplication by powers of 2. Use it when you need precise control over binary representation without floating-point precision issues.
Common BITLSHIFT Examples
Basic Left Shift
=BITLSHIFT(4,2)Shifts 4 (binary 100) left by 2 bits to 16 (binary 10000)
Multiply by 8 (2^3)
=BITLSHIFT(5,3)Efficiently multiplies 5 by 8, returning 40
Power of 2 Multiplication
=BITLSHIFT(13,1)Doubles 13 to 26 using 1-bit left shift
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Errors and Solutions
#NUM!
Cause: Number > 2^48-1 or |shift_amount| > 53
Solution: Use values within valid ranges
#VALUE!
Cause: Non-numeric arguments
Solution: Ensure both arguments are numbers
#NUM!
Cause: Negative number argument
Solution: Number must be ≥ 0
Notes
- Left shift by n bits = multiply by 2^n
- Maximum precision: 53 bits for shift_amount
- Negative shift_amount performs right shift
- Works only with non-negative integers
Compatibility
Available in: Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Excel 365
Not available in: Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Earlier versions
Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2013+