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Data Storage

Convert between Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, Terabytes, and Petabytes.

Conversion Setup

Enter the value and select the units.

Converted Result
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Calculation Breakdown:

Enter values to convert.

Conversion Details
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Convert between Bytes, KB, MB, GB, and TB.

About this topic

Bits vs. Bytes The fundamental units of digital information.

A bit is a single binary digit (0 or 1). A byte is a group of 8 bits. Bytes are the standard unit for measuring file sizes, while bits are used for data transfer rates (e.g., Mbps).

Key formulas & rules

  • •1 Byte (B) = 8 bits
  • •Bytes are uppercase (MB)
  • •Bits are lowercase (Mb)
  • •Storage uses Bytes
  • •Network speed uses bits
  • •A single ASCII character is 1 Byte

Examples

Input Output Note
1 B 8 bits Standard grouping
1 KB 8 Kb Byte vs bit
100 Mbps 12.5 MB/s Network vs storage
1 ASCII char 1 Byte Text data

Real-world uses

Internet plans File sizes Storage drives
Decimal vs. Binary Prefixes Why a 1 TB drive shows up as 931 GB.

Drive manufacturers use decimal prefixes (powers of 1000), while operating systems use binary prefixes (powers of 1024). This discrepancy causes the 'missing space' confusion.

Key formulas & rules

  • •Decimal (SI): 1 KB = 1000 B
  • •Binary (IEC): 1 KiB = 1024 B
  • •Windows uses binary but labels it 'GB'
  • •macOS uses decimal (since 10.6)
  • •Hardware uses decimal
  • •Software uses binary

Examples

Input Output Note
1 TB drive 931 GiB OS display
1 GB 1,000,000,000 B Decimal
1 GiB 1,073,741,824 B Binary
500 GB 465 GiB Common example

Real-world uses

Buying hard drives Cloud storage quotas OS file managers
The 1024 Multiplier How to move between storage sizes.

In binary measurement, each step up (KB to MB, MB to GB) multiplies by 1024. This calculator uses the binary standard, which is standard for RAM and OS file sizes.

Key formulas & rules

  • •1 KB = 1024 B
  • •1 MB = 1024 KB = 1024² B
  • •1 GB = 1024 MB = 1024³ B
  • •1 TB = 1024 GB = 1024⁴ B
  • •1 PB = 1024 TB = 1024⁵ B
  • •Base-2 is native to computing

Examples

Input Output Note
1 MB 1024 KB Step up
1 GB 1,048,576 KB Two steps
1 TB 1,099,511,627,776 B Exact bytes
512 MB 0.5 GB Step down

Real-world uses

RAM specifications File compression Database sizing

Modes & formulas

1

Storage Conversion

• Enter a value and select the From and To units. • The calculator converts through bytes as the base unit. • Results are rounded to 6 decimal places for readability.
value × factor_source / factor_target

1 KB = 1024 B, 1 MB = 1024² B, 1 GB = 1024³ B, and so on. This is the binary convention used by operating systems (Windows, macOS).

How to use it

Enter a value, choose the From unit and To unit, and click Convert. The result is copied to your clipboard with one click.

Frequently asked questions

Why 1024 and not 1000?
Computers use binary (base 2). 1024 = 2¹⁰ is the closest power of 2 to 1000, so it became the standard for storage units.
What is the difference between GB and GiB?
GB (gigabyte) is 1000³ bytes (SI convention), while GiB (gibibyte) is 1024³ bytes (binary convention). This tool uses the binary convention.
What is the difference between a bit and a byte?
A bit is a single binary digit (0 or 1). A byte is a group of 8 bits. Network speeds use bits (Mbps), while file sizes use bytes (MB).
Why is 1 KB equal to 1024 bytes instead of 1000?
Computers use binary (base 2). 1024 is 2¹⁰, making it a natural fit for binary architecture, even though "kilo" technically means 1000.
What is a Megabyte (MB)?
A unit of digital information equal to 1024 Kilobytes. It is roughly the size of a high-resolution photo or a short audio clip.
What is a Gigabyte (GB)?
Equal to 1024 Megabytes. It is commonly used to measure RAM, smartphone storage, or data plans.

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Read the full Data Storage guide — examples & 18 FAQs