MAC address formatter
Paste one or more MAC addresses, one per line, in any common notation, and get them back in the format your switch, firewall or inventory expects. Each line is checked for exactly 12 hex digits.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Paste the addresses, one per line. Empty lines are kept.
- Choose the format and the letter case.
- Copy the result.
How it works
Each line is stripped of its separators and must leave exactly 12 hexadecimal digits, the 48 bits of the address. The digits are then regrouped: six pairs joined by colons or hyphens, three groups of four joined by dots, or one block of twelve.
Example
The three sample lines 0018.8b7e.1a2f, 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E and a0b1c2d3e4f5 become, with colons in upper case:
00:18:8B:7E:1A:2F
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
A0:B1:C2:D3:E4:F5
Tips
- To compare two lists of addresses from different systems, convert both to the same format first.
- The first six digits identify the manufacturer (the OUI), unless the address is randomised by the device, as phones often do for Wi-Fi privacy.
Frequently asked questions
Which formats does it read?
Pairs separated by colons or hyphens (00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E, 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E), groups of four separated by dots as Cisco shows them (001a.2b3c.4d5e), two groups of six, and 12 hex digits with no separator. Upper and lower case letters both work.
Which format should I use?
Colons are usual on Linux, macOS and most network gear; Windows shows hyphens; Cisco IOS uses dotted groups of four. Databases and scripts often store the 12 digits without separators so that comparisons are simple.
Why is a line rejected?
Either it does not have exactly 12 hex digits, it contains a letter beyond F, or its groups have different lengths, such as 001:122:334:455. The error names the first such line so you can fix it.
Does upper or lower case matter?
Not to the network. A MAC address is a number, so 00:1a:2b and 00:1A:2B are the same. Pick the case that matches the system you paste into, because some text searches are case-sensitive.