---
title: "RIGHT_SHIFT (Transact-SQL)"
description: "Transact-SQL reference for the RIGHT_SHIFT function."
author: thesqlsith
ms.author: derekw
ms.reviewer: randolphwest
ms.date: 01/29/2026
ms.service: sql
ms.subservice: t-sql
ms.topic: reference
ms.custom:
  - ignite-2025
f1_keywords:
  - "RIGHT_SHIFT"
  - "RIGHT_SHIFT_TSQL"
helpviewer_keywords:
  - "bit manipulation [SQL Server], right shift"
  - "RIGHT_SHIFT function"
  - "bitwise right shift"
  - "bit shifting [SQL Server], right shift"
dev_langs:
  - "TSQL"
monikerRange: ">=sql-server-ver16 || >=sql-server-linux-ver16 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =azuresqldb-current || =fabric || =fabric-sqldb"
---
# RIGHT_SHIFT (Transact SQL)

[!INCLUDE [SQL Server 2022, SQL Database, SQL Managed Instance FabricSE FabricDW FabricSQLDB](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver2022-asdb-asmi-fabricse-fabricdw-fabricsqldb.md)]

`RIGHT_SHIFT` takes two parameters, and returns the first parameter bit-shifted right by the number of bits specified in the second parameter.

The `RIGHT_SHIFT` function is also accessible through the `>>` operator.

:::image type="icon" source="../../includes/media/topic-link-icon.svg" border="false"::: [Transact-SQL syntax conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)

## Syntax

```syntaxsql
RIGHT_SHIFT ( expression_value , shift_amount )
expression_value >> shift_amount
```

## Arguments

#### *expression_value*

Any integer or binary expression that isn't a large object (LOB).

#### *shift_amount*

The number of bits by which *expression_value* should be shifted. *shift_amount* must be an integer type.

## Return types

Returns the same type as *expression_value*.

The *shift_amount* parameter is cast to a **bigint**. The parameter can be positive or negative, and can also be greater than the number of bits in the data type of *expression_value*. When *shift_amount* is negative, the shift operates in the opposite direction. For example, `LEFT_SHIFT (expr, -1)` is the same as `RIGHT_SHIFT (expr, 1)`. When *shift_amount* is greater than the number of bits in *expression_value*, the result returned is `0`.

`RIGHT_SHIFT` performs a logical shift. After bits are shifted, any vacant positions are filled by `0`, regardless of whether the original value was positive or negative.

## Remarks

In the initial implementation, Distributed Query functionality for the bit manipulation functions within linked server or ad hoc queries (`OPENQUERY`) aren't supported.

The `>>` method for the `RIGHT_SHIFT` function isn't currently supported in [!INCLUDE [fabric](../../includes/fabric.md)].

## Examples

In the following example, the integer value 12,345 is right-shifted by 5 bits.

```sql
SELECT RIGHT_SHIFT(12345, 5);
```

The result is 385. If you convert 12,345 to binary, you have `0011 0000 0011 1001`. Shifting this value to the right by 5 bits becomes `0001 1000 0001`, which is `385` in decimal.

The following table demonstrates what happens during each shift.

| Integer value | Binary value | Description |
| ---: | ---: | --- |
| `12345` | `0011 0000 0011 1001` | Starting value |
| `6172` | `0001 1000 0001 1100` | Shift right by 1 |
| `3086` | `0000 1100 0000 1110` | Shift right by 2 |
| `1543` | `0000 0110 0000 0111` | Shift right by 3 |
| `771` | `0000 0011 0000 0011` | Shift right by 4 |
| `385` | `0000 0001 1000 0001` | Shift right by 5 |

## Related content

- [LEFT_SHIFT (Transact SQL)](left-shift-transact-sql.md)
- [SET_BIT (Transact SQL)](set-bit-transact-sql.md)
- [GET_BIT (Transact SQL)](get-bit-transact-sql.md)
- [BIT_COUNT (Transact SQL)](bit-count-transact-sql.md)
- [Bit manipulation functions](bit-manipulation-functions-overview.md)