A configurable low-density parity check code (LDPC) decoder and a method of configuring the decoder. In one embodiment, the configurable LDPC decoder includes: (1) pluralities of parity check units and bit node units, (2) direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters coupled to the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units and (3) a control circuit, coupled to the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units and the direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters and configured to configure sizes of the direct and reverse multi-size barrel shifters and numbers of the pluralities of parity check units and bit node units to cooperate therewith based on a block size of a particular LDPC code.