Abstract: A data packing circuit, used in a variable length coder, for receiving code words including variable length codes and code length information of the variable length codes, and packing the variable length codes with no gaps into successive units of bits having predetermined length. The code word is shifted in a first direction by a number of bits equal to a shift number, and in parallel, the code word is shifted in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a number of bits equal to the difference between the predetermined length and the shift number, and zero is filled in each vacant bit which is generated by the above shift operations. The shift number is determined by accumulation of the code lengths by modulo-n addition, n being equal to the predetermined number, and a carry addition of the code lengths whether or not a carry occurs over the above predetermined length in the accumulated value.