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Base32 Encoder & Decoder

Encode and decode Base32, including the Crockford and hex variants.

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Quick Tool Overview

The Base32 Encoder & Decoder converts between text and Base32 using four alphabets — RFC 4648, base32hex, Crockford and z-base-32 — with text UTF-8 encoded first so accents and emoji round-trip exactly.

What it does
Encodes text to Base32 and decodes it back
You give it
Plain text or a Base32 string
You get back
The converted value in your chosen alphabet
Best for
TOTP secrets, DNS labels and human-readable identifiers
Developer Tools Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Base32 Encoder & Decoder

Base32 encodes binary data using 32 characters, five bits at a time, so every five bytes become eight characters. It is less compact than Base64 but far more robust in the places it is used: TOTP secrets, DNS records, filenames and anything a human has to type or read aloud.

Four alphabets are supported. RFC 4648 is the standard one, using A–Z and 2–7. The hex variant sorts in the same order as the underlying data, which matters in a database key. Crockford leaves out I, L, O and U, and treats O as zero and I and L as one when decoding, so a value read over the phone still works. z-base-32 reorders the alphabet to put the easiest characters first. Text is UTF-8 encoded before encoding, so accented letters and emoji round-trip exactly.

Key features of the Base32 Encoder & Decoder

Four alphabets

RFC 4648 for standards work, base32hex when sort order must match the data, Crockford for values people read aloud, and z-base-32.

Crockford ambiguity handling

Decoding maps O to zero and I and L to one, so a value mistyped from a handwritten note still decodes correctly.

Real Unicode support

Text is UTF-8 encoded before encoding, so accented letters and emoji survive the round trip instead of being mangled.

Padding is optional

Emit or omit the trailing equals signs, and decode strings that arrive either way.

Bad characters are named

A character that is not in the chosen alphabet is reported as itself, rather than producing silent garbage.

How to use the Base32 Encoder & Decoder

  1. 1

    Pick a direction

    Encode plain text to Base32, or decode a Base32 string back.

  2. 2

    Choose the alphabet

    RFC 4648 unless you know you need base32hex, Crockford or z-base-32.

  3. 3

    Paste your input

    The conversion runs as you type, with any invalid character named.

  4. 4

    Copy the result

    Take the output to your clipboard with one click.

Frequently asked questions

Because it survives contact with humans and case-insensitive systems. Base32 uses no lowercase letters and no punctuation, so it works in a DNS label, a filename, and when read aloud — which is why TOTP secrets use it.

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