Fraction to Decimal
Turn any fraction into its exact decimal value — repeating digits are detected automatically and shown with a bar. Free, instant and private: everything is calculated in your browser.
Accepted formats: 3/4 · -7/8 · mixed numbers like 1 2/3 · whole numbers · Unicode fractions like ½
How to use the Fraction to Decimal converter
- Enter your fraction. Type it as numerator/denominator, e.g. 3/4. Negative fractions (-7/8), mixed numbers (1 2/3) and whole numbers all work, or click one of the example buttons.
- Read the exact decimal. The result updates instantly. If the decimal repeats forever, the repeating digits are shown with a bar above them and in parentheses, e.g. 1/6 = 0.1(6).
- Copy the result you need. Use the copy buttons to grab the exact repeating notation or the value rounded to your chosen number of decimal places.
About this tool
Converting a fraction to a decimal means dividing the numerator by the denominator. This calculator performs that long division exactly, with no floating-point error, so 1/3 comes out as 0.(3) rather than 0.3333333333333333. It first simplifies your fraction to lowest terms, then tells you whether the decimal terminates or repeats, how long the repeating cycle is, and what the fraction is as a percentage. A fraction in lowest terms produces a terminating decimal only when its denominator has no prime factors other than 2 and 5 — every other denominator gives a repeating decimal, which this tool detects and displays for you.
It is handy for homework and teaching, for reading measurements like 5/8 inch as 0.625, and for checking calculator answers. All the math runs locally in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded or stored. Need the opposite conversion? Use the Decimal to Fraction tool.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a fraction to a decimal by hand?
Divide the numerator by the denominator using long division. For 3/8: 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375. If the remainder never reaches zero, the digits start repeating — for 1/6 you get 0.1666…, written 0.1(6). This tool does exactly that division for you and spots the repeat automatically.
Which fractions give terminating decimals and which repeat?
Reduce the fraction to lowest terms and look at the denominator. If its only prime factors are 2 and 5 (like 8, 10, 16, 25, 40), the decimal terminates. Any other factor (3, 7, 11…) forces an infinitely repeating decimal. For example 7/20 = 0.35 terminates, while 7/30 = 0.2(3) repeats.
What do the parentheses and the bar over digits mean?
Both mark the block of digits that repeats forever. 0.1(6) and 0.16̅ both mean 0.16666… The bar is called a vinculum and is the standard textbook notation; parentheses are the common plain-text equivalent, which is what the copy button gives you.
Can I enter mixed numbers, negatives or very large fractions?
Yes. Mixed numbers like 1 2/3 are read as 1 + 2/3 = 5/3, and a leading minus sign makes the whole value negative. The calculator uses arbitrary-precision integers, so even fractions with hundreds of digits are converted exactly, with repeating cycles detected up to 2,000 digits long.