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Subnet mask calculator

Convert between subnet mask, CIDR prefix, wildcard mask and host count.

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How to convert subnet masks

  1. Enter a mask or CIDR. Type a subnet mask in dotted form or a CIDR like /24.
  2. Read the conversions. Mask, CIDR prefix, wildcard, host count and binary appear instantly.

CIDR ↔ mask conversion

Network gear and cloud consoles disagree about whether they want a CIDR prefix or a dotted mask in any given field, and the on-the-fly conversion is the most common reason engineers reach for a calculator. The math is straightforward — every prefix value 0–32 maps to a single contiguous mask — and a valid IPv4 mask is always a run of 1-bits followed by 0-bits (255.255.0.255 is not a legal mask). The page rejects non-contiguous masks and shows both forms plus the wildcard, host count and binary representation.

Frequently asked questions

What is a subnet mask?
A 32-bit value that marks which bits of an IPv4 address are the network portion (1s) and which are the host portion (0s). 255.255.255.0 means "first 24 bits are the network."
How does the CIDR prefix map to a mask?
The prefix /N is just the number of 1-bits in the mask. /24 ↔ 255.255.255.0, /25 ↔ 255.255.255.128, /30 ↔ 255.255.255.252, etc.
What is the wildcard mask?
The bitwise inverse of the subnet mask. /24 has a wildcard 0.0.0.255. Used in Cisco ACLs and OSPF.
Can I enter a mask to get the prefix?
Yes — type any valid mask like 255.255.240.0 and the page reports its prefix length, host count and wildcard.