diff --git a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/scalar.rs b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/scalar.rs
index 4113b625ecd..052c2934379 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/scalar.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/scalar.rs
@@ -94,9 +94,6 @@ impl<'a> DecimalScalar<'a> {
             DType::Primitive(ptype, nullability) => {
                 // Cast decimal to primitive type
                 if let Some(decimal_value) = &self.decimal_value {
-                    // Convert decimal value to primitive, accounting for scale
-                    let scale_factor = 10_i128.pow(self.decimal_type.scale() as u32);
-
                     // Convert to i128 for calculation
                     let scaled_value = match_each_decimal_value!(decimal_value, |v| {
                         NumToPrimitive::to_i128(v).ok_or_else(|| {
@@ -108,7 +105,12 @@ impl<'a> DecimalScalar<'a> {
                     // either formally prove this is all correct or use more checked methods.
 
                     // Apply scale to get the actual value.
-                    let actual_value = scaled_value as f64 / scale_factor as f64;
+                    let scale = i32::from(self.decimal_type.scale());
+                    let actual_value = if scale >= 0 {
+                        scaled_value as f64 / 10f64.powi(scale)
+                    } else {
+                        scaled_value as f64 * 10f64.powi(-scale)
+                    };
 
                     // Cast to target primitive type. Note that the `as` keyword does **MORE** than
                     // a simple bitcast / memory transmuation.
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/tests.rs b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/tests.rs
index 85029fc38f7..7a441425c02 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/tests.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/scalar/typed_view/decimal/tests.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::dtype::DecimalDType;
 use crate::dtype::DecimalType;
 use crate::dtype::MAX_PRECISION;
+use crate::dtype::MAX_SCALE;
 use crate::dtype::NativeDecimalType;
 use crate::dtype::Nullability;
 use crate::dtype::PType;
@@ -1421,3 +1422,61 @@ fn test_fits_in_precision_mixed_decimal_value_types() {
     assert!(DecimalValue::I128(99999).fits_in_precision(dtype));
     assert!(!DecimalValue::I256(i256::from_i128(100000)).fits_in_precision(dtype));
 }
+
+fn cast_decimal_to_f64(precision: u8, scale: i8, stored: i64) -> VortexResult<f64> {
+    let scalar = Scalar::decimal(
+        DecimalValue::I64(stored),
+        DecimalDType::new(precision, scale),
+        Nullability::NonNullable,
+    );
+    let casted = scalar.cast(&DType::Primitive(PType::F64, Nullability::NonNullable))?;
+    (&casted).try_into()
+}
+
+#[rstest]
+#[case::negative_scale(5, -5, 1, 100_000.0)]
+#[case::extreme_negative_scale(1, -30, 1, 1e30)]
+#[case::scale_past_i128(MAX_PRECISION, 39, 1, 1e-39)]
+#[case::max_scale(MAX_PRECISION, MAX_SCALE, 1, 1e-76)]
+#[case::negative_value_negative_scale(5, -5, -1, -100_000.0)]
+fn cast_decimal_to_f64_spans_the_scale_domain(
+    #[case] precision: u8,
+    #[case] scale: i8,
+    #[case] stored: i64,
+    #[case] expected: f64,
+) -> VortexResult<()> {
+    let value = cast_decimal_to_f64(precision, scale, stored)?;
+    // `10^scale` is not exact in `f64` above `10^22`.
+    assert!(
+        (value - expected).abs() <= expected.abs() * 1e-15,
+        "decimal({precision},{scale}) storing {stored} cast to {value}, expected {expected}"
+    );
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[rstest]
+#[case(10, 2, 12345, 123.45)]
+#[case(10, 0, -7, -7.0)]
+#[case(20, 6, 1_500_000, 1.5)]
+fn cast_decimal_to_f64_is_exact_for_common_scales(
+    #[case] precision: u8,
+    #[case] scale: i8,
+    #[case] stored: i64,
+    #[case] expected: f64,
+) -> VortexResult<()> {
+    assert_eq!(cast_decimal_to_f64(precision, scale, stored)?, expected);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn cast_decimal_to_narrow_float_uses_the_same_scale_factor() -> VortexResult<()> {
+    let scalar = Scalar::decimal(
+        DecimalValue::I64(1),
+        DecimalDType::new(5, -5),
+        Nullability::NonNullable,
+    );
+    let f32_value: f32 =
+        (&scalar.cast(&DType::Primitive(PType::F32, Nullability::NonNullable))?).try_into()?;
+    assert_eq!(f32_value, 100_000.0);
+    Ok(())
+}