Identify the place values from right to left: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128
Read each bit as either 0 or 1
Add the place values where the bit is 1
Ignore the place values where the bit is 0
Convert the total into decimal
For binary fractions, use place values after the point: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16
Add the fractional place values where the bit is 1
Group bits into sets of 4 or 8 when helpful
Use binary-to-decimal charts if needed
Practice with small numbers first