Letters to numbers converter
Type a word and each letter becomes its place in the alphabet: HELLO is 8 5 12 12 15. Switch to A = 0, a reversed alphabet or ASCII codes, and see the sum of every word.
Show each letter and the sum
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How to use the converter
- Type or paste words in the left box. Capital and small letters give the same number.
- Choose the Alphabet: A = 1 to Z = 26 (A1Z26), A = 0, reversed, or ASCII codes.
- Pick a Separator under the box. With spaces, words are split by a slash; with dashes, words are split by a space, the usual way A1Z26 codes are written.
- Tick "Keep other characters" to carry punctuation across, then copy, download or share. The total of all letters shows next to the buttons.
How letters to numbers works
The most common system, often called A1Z26, numbers each letter by its position: A is 1, B is 2 and Z is 26. It turns up in puzzle hunts, escape rooms, geocaching, classroom code-breaking and puzzle books, because anyone can decode it with nothing but the alphabet.
Letters to numbers chart
| Letter | A1Z26 | A = 0 | Reversed | ASCII (capital) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 0 | 26 | 65 |
| B | 2 | 1 | 25 | 66 |
| C | 3 | 2 | 24 | 67 |
| D | 4 | 3 | 23 | 68 |
| E | 5 | 4 | 22 | 69 |
| F | 6 | 5 | 21 | 70 |
| G | 7 | 6 | 20 | 71 |
| H | 8 | 7 | 19 | 72 |
| I | 9 | 8 | 18 | 73 |
| J | 10 | 9 | 17 | 74 |
| K | 11 | 10 | 16 | 75 |
| L | 12 | 11 | 15 | 76 |
| M | 13 | 12 | 14 | 77 |
| N | 14 | 13 | 13 | 78 |
| O | 15 | 14 | 12 | 79 |
| P | 16 | 15 | 11 | 80 |
| Q | 17 | 16 | 10 | 81 |
| R | 18 | 17 | 9 | 82 |
| S | 19 | 18 | 8 | 83 |
| T | 20 | 19 | 7 | 84 |
| U | 21 | 20 | 6 | 85 |
| V | 22 | 21 | 5 | 86 |
| W | 23 | 22 | 4 | 87 |
| X | 24 | 23 | 3 | 88 |
| Y | 25 | 24 | 2 | 89 |
| Z | 26 | 25 | 1 | 90 |
Word values and sums
Adding the numbers gives a single value for a word. HELLO is 8 + 5 + 12 + 12 + 15 = 52, WORLD is 23 + 15 + 18 + 12 + 4 = 72, and LOVE is 12 + 15 + 22 + 5 = 54. Word sums are used in puzzles and number games. The converter shows the total next to the buttons and the sum of each word under "Show each letter and the sum".
Other ways to number the alphabet
- A = 0 to Z = 25 is common in programming and in cipher math, where shifting a letter by k is (n + k) mod 26.
- Reversed, Z = 1 to A = 26, appears in some puzzles. Combined with A1Z26 it is a quick way to do the Atbash cipher, which swaps A with Z, B with Y and so on.
- ASCII codes keep upper and lower case apart: A is 65 and a is 97. Pick this setting for computer text, or use text to ASCII for hex and binary output as well.
To decode numbers back into words, use the numbers to letters converter or its tab above the tool.
Letters to numbers in Python, JavaScript and Excel
- Python:
[ord(ch) - 64 for ch in "HELLO".upper()]returns[8, 5, 12, 12, 15], because ord() gives each letter its ASCII code and A is 65. - JavaScript:
[..."HELLO"].map(ch => ch.toUpperCase().charCodeAt(0) - 64)gives the same list. - Excel and Google Sheets:
=CODE(UPPER(A1))-64turns the letter in A1 into its number. Microsoft's CODE function page gives=CODE("A")as 65.
All three subtract 64 because capital A is 65 in ASCII.
Frequently asked questions
What number is the letter A?
1 in A1Z26, 0 if the alphabet starts at zero, and 65 as an ASCII code.
What number is Z?
26 in A1Z26. In the reversed alphabet Z is 1.
What is the A1Z26 cipher?
A simple substitution code that replaces each letter with its position in the alphabet, from A = 1 to Z = 26. Letters in a word are usually joined with dashes and words separated by spaces.
Is A1Z26 a secure way to hide a message?
No. Anyone who spots numbers from 1 to 26 can decode it in seconds. It is meant for puzzles and games.
What does 8 5 12 12 15 mean?
HELLO in A1Z26.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser.