A1Z26 Cipher Encoder & Decoder
Convert letters to numbers and back with the A1Z26 cipher, where A=1, B=2, all the way to Z=26 — a favourite in puzzles and escape rooms.
What is the A1Z26 cipher?
The A1Z26 cipher replaces each letter with its position in the alphabet: A is 1, B is 2, and so on to Z is 26. It is one of the simplest codes to understand, which makes it a staple of puzzles, escape rooms, and kids’ spy games.
How to use it
- Choose Encode (letters to numbers) or Decode (numbers to letters).
- Type your text or numbers.
- Tap Copy to save the result.
How A1Z26 works
When encoding, letters in a word are joined with dashes and words separated by spaces, so "hi there" becomes 8-9 20-8-5-18-5. When decoding, any non-digit character is treated as a separator, so dashes, spaces, or commas all work. Only the numbers 1 to 26 map to letters.
Where it is used
A1Z26 is popular in treasure hunts and ARGs, and it pairs naturally with other simple ciphers to build layered puzzles.
More codes and ciphers
Explore the rest of the family: the Caesar Cipher, Atbash, Vigenère, and A1Z26. For other encodings, try the Morse Code Translator and the Binary Translator.
Free and private
This A1Z26 cipher tool runs entirely in your browser — free, with no sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded or stored.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the A1Z26 cipher?
- A1Z26 replaces each letter with its position in the alphabet: A=1, B=2, C=3, up to Z=26. Letters within a word are usually separated by dashes and words by spaces, for example 8-9 for 'hi'.
- How do I decode A1Z26?
- Choose Decode and paste the numbers. The tool reads each number 1–26 back into a letter, keeping word boundaries where there are spaces.
- What separator does it use?
- When encoding, letters in a word are joined with dashes and words separated by spaces. When decoding, any non-digit characters are treated as separators, so dashes, spaces, or commas all work.
- Is it free and private?
- Yes — it runs entirely in your browser with no sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.
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