Convert.ToSByte (String, Int32) converts string in a base to 8-bit signed integer.
Class Sample Public Shared Sub Main() Dim value As String = Convert.ToString(Byte.MaxValue, 16) Try Dim number As SByte = Convert.ToSByte(value, 16) Console.WriteLine("0x{0} converts to {1}.", value, number) Catch e As OverflowException Console.WriteLine("Unable to convert '0x{0}' to a signed byte.", value) End Try End Sub End Class