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BITOR Function

Q: What numbers can BITOR accept?

Decimal integers from 0 to (2^48)-1. Negative numbers or decimals cause #NUM! errors.

Q: How does BITOR differ from addition?

BITOR works at bit level (1 OR 1 = 1), while addition uses arithmetic (+1+1=2).

Q: Can BITOR handle text values?

No, non-numeric values return #VALUE! error.

Excel 2007+

Summary

The Excel BITOR function performs a bitwise OR operation between two decimal numbers, returning a new number where each bit position is set to 1 if either of the input numbers has a 1 in that position. This powerful function enables precise binary manipulation directly within Excel spreadsheets.

Syntax

BITOR(number1, number2)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
number1	`Number`	Yes	First decimal number for bitwise OR operation (must be >= 0 and <= (2^48)-1)
number2	`Number`	Yes	Second decimal number for bitwise OR operation (must be >= 0 and <= (2^48)-1)

Using the BITOR Function

BITOR is invaluable for developers and advanced users working with binary flags, permissions, or any scenario requiring bit-level manipulation. Use it to combine multiple binary flags into a single number or check if specific bit positions are set across multiple values.

Common BITOR Examples

Basic BITOR Example

=BITOR(23,10)

Returns 31. Binary: 10111 OR 01010 = 11111 (23+8=31)

Flag Combination

=BITOR(B1,C1)

Combines permission flags from B1 and C1 into single value

Multiple Flags

=BITOR(1,2)

Combines READ (1) and WRITE (2) permissions: returns 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Decimal integers from 0 to (2^48)-1. Negative numbers or decimals cause #NUM! errors.

BITOR works at bit level (1 OR 1 = 1), while addition uses arithmetic (+1+1=2).

No, non-numeric values return #VALUE! error.

Common Errors and Solutions

#NUM!

Cause: Number < 0 or > (2^48)-1

Solution: Use numbers between 0 and 281474976710655

#VALUE!

Cause: Non-numeric input

Solution: Ensure both arguments are valid numbers

Wrong result

Cause: Confusing bitwise OR with arithmetic addition

Solution: Remember: BITOR(1,1) returns 1, not 2

Notes

Bits numbered right-to-left: 2^0=1, 2^1=2, 2^2=4, etc.
Available in Excel 2007 and later
Maximum value: 281,474,976,710,655
Use BITAND for bitwise AND operations
Combine with BITLSHIFT/RIGHT for complex bit manipulation

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365

Not available in: Excel 2003 and earlier

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+