diff --git a/datafusion/functions/src/string/bit_length.rs b/datafusion/functions/src/string/bit_length.rs
index 1578331e57f89..ea58a95cb1c6e 100644
--- a/datafusion/functions/src/string/bit_length.rs
+++ b/datafusion/functions/src/string/bit_length.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ use datafusion_expr::{
     TypeSignatureClass, Volatility,
 };
 use datafusion_macros::user_doc;
+use arrow::array::{
+    Array, StringArray, LargeStringArray, Int32Builder,
+};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
 
 #[user_doc(
     doc_section(label = "String Functions"),
@@ -90,17 +95,44 @@ impl ScalarUDFImpl for BitLengthFunc {
         let [array] = take_function_args(self.name(), &args.args)?;
 
         match array {
-            ColumnarValue::Array(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Array(bit_length(v.as_ref())?)),
+            ColumnarValue::Array(v) => {
+                if let Some(arr) = v.as_any().downcast_ref::<StringArray>() {
+                    let mut builder = Int32Builder::with_capacity(arr.len());
+                    for i in 0..arr.len() {
+                        if arr.is_null(i) {
+                            builder.append_null();
+                        } else {
+                            let byte_len = arr.value(i).as_bytes().len();
+                            builder.append_value((byte_len * 8) as i32);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Ok(ColumnarValue::Array(Arc::new(builder.finish())))
+                } else if let Some(arr) = v.as_any().downcast_ref::<LargeStringArray>() {
+                    let mut builder = Int32Builder::with_capacity(arr.len());
+                    for i in 0..arr.len() {
+                        if arr.is_null(i) {
+                            builder.append_null();
+                        } else {
+                            let byte_len = arr.value(i).as_bytes().len();
+                            builder.append_value((byte_len * 8) as i32);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Ok(ColumnarValue::Array(Arc::new(builder.finish())))
+                } else {
+                    // fallback for Utf8View, Dictionary, Binary, etc.
+                    Ok(ColumnarValue::Array(bit_length(v.as_ref())?))
+                }
+            }
             ColumnarValue::Scalar(v) => match v {
                 ScalarValue::Utf8(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Scalar(ScalarValue::Int32(
                     v.as_ref().map(|x| (x.len() * 8) as i32),
                 ))),
-                ScalarValue::LargeUtf8(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Scalar(
-                    ScalarValue::Int64(v.as_ref().map(|x| (x.len() * 8) as i64)),
-                )),
-                ScalarValue::Utf8View(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Scalar(
-                    ScalarValue::Int32(v.as_ref().map(|x| (x.len() * 8) as i32)),
-                )),
+                ScalarValue::LargeUtf8(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Scalar(ScalarValue::Int64(
+                    v.as_ref().map(|x| (x.len() * 8) as i64),
+                ))),
+                ScalarValue::Utf8View(v) => Ok(ColumnarValue::Scalar(ScalarValue::Int32(
+                    v.as_ref().map(|x| (x.len() * 8) as i32),
+                ))),
                 _ => unreachable!("bit length"),
             },
         }