Fraction to decimal calculator

Last updated 2026-10-02

This fraction to decimal calculator converts any fraction or mixed number into a decimal and shows the long division that gets there. If the decimal repeats, the repeating digits are marked with a bar, so $\frac{1}{6}$ shows as $0.1\overline{6}$ , not a rounded guess.

This calculator needs JavaScript. Without it, the fraction to decimal chart lists every common fraction as a decimal.

How to convert a fraction to a decimal

A fraction is a division: the numerator divided by the denominator. There are two ways to do it by hand, and the calculator shows whichever one fits.

Simplify first. Divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor. $\frac{6}{8}$ becomes $\frac{3}{4}$ .
Check the denominator. In simplest form, if the denominator has no prime factors other than 2 and 5, the decimal ends. If it has any other prime factor (3, 7, 11 and so on), the decimal repeats forever.
If it ends, scale to a power of 10. Multiply top and bottom by whatever turns the denominator into 10, 100 or 1000: $\frac{3}{8} = \frac{375}{1000} = 0.375$ .
Otherwise, divide. Long division of the numerator by the denominator. When a remainder appears for the second time, the digits from that point repeat.
Check it. Multiply the decimal by the denominator and you should get the numerator back.

Two examples

Example 1: 7/16 as a decimal

$\frac{7}{16}$ is already in simplest form, and $16 = 2^4$ , so the decimal ends.
Multiply top and bottom by 625 to make the denominator 10,000: $\frac{7}{16} = \frac{4375}{10000} = 0.4375$

So $\frac{7}{16} = 0.4375$ . Check: $0.4375 \times 16 = 7$ .

Example 2: 5/6 as a decimal

$\frac{5}{6}$ is in simplest form, and $6 = 2 \times 3$ . The factor 3 means the decimal repeats.
Divide: 50 divided by 6 is 8 remainder 2, then 20 divided by 6 is 3 remainder 2. The remainder 2 has appeared again, so the 3 repeats. $\frac{5}{6} = 0.8\overline{3}$

So $\frac{5}{6} = 0.8333\ldots$ , about 0.8333. Check: $0.8\overline{3} \times 6 = 5$ .

Common fractions as decimals

Fraction	Decimal	Percent
1/2	0.5	50 percent
1/3	0.333 repeating	33.3 repeating percent
1/4	0.25	25 percent
1/8	0.125	12.5 percent
3/8	0.375	37.5 percent
1/16	0.0625	6.25 percent

The full table, halves to sixteenths, is in the fraction to decimal chart. To go the other way, use the decimal to fraction calculator.

Questions

Why do some fractions repeat and others end?

A decimal is a fraction with a denominator of 10, 100, 1000 and so on, and $10 = 2 \times 5$ . A denominator built only from 2s and 5s can be scaled up to a power of 10, so the decimal ends. Any other prime factor can never divide a power of 10, so the division never finishes and the remainders start to cycle.

How do I enter a mixed number?

Type the whole number in the first box and the fraction in the other two. $2\frac{3}{8}$ is whole number 2, numerator 3, denominator 8, and the result is 2.375.

Is the answer rounded?

No. The exact decimal is shown, with a bar over the repeating digits when it repeats. A rounded value to four decimal places is shown next to it for convenience.

When the fraction is part of a bigger problem on a worksheet, photograph the whole problem in AI Math Tutor and check every step, not just the conversion.