This data storage converter changes an amount of digital data between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and their binary versions such as KiB, MiB and GiB. One byte is 8 bits. Decimal (SI) prefixes step by 1,000, so 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes, while binary (IEC) prefixes step by 1,024, so 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes.
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How to use the data storage converter
- Enter the amount, for example 750.
- In the data storage converter, choose its unit and the target unit, such as MB to GB.
- Read the result: 750 MB = 0.75 GB in decimal units.
Pick decimal or binary units deliberately. Drive makers and network speeds use decimal prefixes; many operating systems report sizes in binary units, sometimes still labelled GB.
What is data storage?
Data storage size is measured in bits and bytes (1 byte = 8 bits). Decimal prefixes (kB, MB, GB) step by 1,000 and are used by drive makers; binary prefixes (KiB, MiB, GiB) step by 1,024 and are often used by operating systems, which is why a 1 TB drive shows about 931 GiB.
Conversion formula
Every unit is stored as a multiple of the base unit, the bit (bit). To convert:
value in target unit = value × (factor of source unit ÷ factor of target unit)
where each factor is the size of the unit in bits.
Common data storage conversions
| From | To | 1 unit equals |
|---|---|---|
| megabyte (MB) | mebibyte (MiB) | 0.9536743 MiB |
| mebibyte (MiB) | megabyte (MB) | 1.048576 MB |
| gigabyte (GB) | gibibyte (GiB) | 0.9313226 GiB |
| gibibyte (GiB) | gigabyte (GB) | 1.073742 GB |
| byte (B) | bit (bit) | 8 bit |
| megabit (Mb) | megabyte (MB) | 0.125 MB |
| terabyte (TB) | tebibyte (TiB) | 0.9094947 TiB |
| kilobyte (KB) | kibibyte (KiB) | 0.9765625 KiB |
| petabyte (PB) | pebibyte (PiB) | 0.8881784 PiB |
| mebibit (Mib) | megabit (Mb) | 1.048576 Mb |
Data storage converter worked example
Convert 25 megabytes to mebibytes:
- Factor of MB = 8,000,000 bit
- Factor of MiB = 8,388,608 bit
- 25 × 8,000,000 ÷ 8,388,608 = 23.84186 MiB
Data storage unit reference
| Unit | Symbol | Group | Equals (bit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit | bit | Base | 1 |
| Byte | B | Base | 8 |
| Kilobit (decimal, 10³ bits) | Kb | Decimal (SI) | 1,000 |
| Megabit (decimal, 10⁶ bits) | Mb | Decimal (SI) | 1,000,000 |
| Gigabit (decimal, 10⁹ bits) | Gb | Decimal (SI) | 1,000,000,000 |
| Terabit (decimal, 10¹² bits) | Tb | Decimal (SI) | 1 × 1012 |
| Petabit (decimal, 10¹⁵ bits) | Pb | Decimal (SI) | 1 × 1015 |
| Kilobyte (decimal, 10³ bytes) | KB | Decimal (SI) | 8,000 |
| Megabyte (decimal, 10⁶ bytes) | MB | Decimal (SI) | 8,000,000 |
| Gigabyte (decimal, 10⁹ bytes) | GB | Decimal (SI) | 8,000,000,000 |
| Terabyte (decimal, 10¹² bytes) | TB | Decimal (SI) | 8 × 1012 |
| Petabyte (decimal, 10¹⁵ bytes) | PB | Decimal (SI) | 8 × 1015 |
| Kibibit (binary, 2¹⁰ bits) | Kib | Binary (IEC) | 1,024 |
| Mebibit (binary, 2²⁰ bits) | Mib | Binary (IEC) | 1,048,576 |
| Gibibit (binary, 2³⁰ bits) | Gib | Binary (IEC) | 1,073,741,824 |
| Kibibyte (binary, 2¹⁰ bytes) | KiB | Binary (IEC) | 8,192 |
| Mebibyte (binary, 2²⁰ bytes) | MiB | Binary (IEC) | 8,388,608 |
| Gibibyte (binary, 2³⁰ bytes) | GiB | Binary (IEC) | 8,589,934,592 |
| Tebibyte (binary, 2⁴⁰ bytes) | TiB | Binary (IEC) | 8.79609 × 1012 |
| Pebibyte (binary, 2⁵⁰ bytes) | PiB | Binary (IEC) | 9.0072 × 1015 |
| Nibble (4 bits) | nibble | Base | 4 |
GB vs GiB: why a new drive looks smaller
A drive sold as 1 TB holds 1012 bytes. Software that counts in binary units divides by 1,024 at each step, so it shows less:
| Advertised size | Bytes | Shown in binary units |
|---|---|---|
| 500 GB | 500,000,000,000 | 465.7 GiB |
| 1 TB | 1,000,000,000,000 | 931.3 GiB |
| 2 TB | 2,000,000,000,000 | 1.82 TiB |
| 4 TB | 4,000,000,000,000 | 3.64 TiB |
No space is missing; the same bytes are counted with a different unit. GB to TB in decimal units is simply divide by 1,000.
Network speed vs file size: bits and bytes
Internet speeds are quoted in megabits per second (Mbps), while files are measured in bytes. For bits to bytes, divide by 8:
| Connection speed | Megabytes per second | Time for a 5 GB file |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mbps | 3.12 | 26.7 min |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 | 6.7 min |
| 300 Mbps | 37.5 | 2.2 min |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 | 1.3 min |
| 1000 Mbps | 125 | 0.7 min |
Times are ideal; real transfers are slower because of protocol overhead. For rates, use the data transfer rate converter.
Why a new drive shows less space
A drive sold as 1 TB holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, because drive makers use decimal prefixes. Windows reports size in binary units but labels them GB, so it shows about 931 GB. Nothing is missing: 1012 ÷ 230 = 931.3. The data storage converter shows both figures when you switch between TB and TiB or GB and GiB. A little more space goes to the file system and any recovery partition.
Estimating what fits
A rough budget helps when choosing a phone, laptop or backup drive. A 12-megapixel JPEG photo is often around 3 to 4 MB, so 128 GB holds roughly 32,000 photos at 4 MB each, less after the operating system and apps. Video takes far more: 4K video can use several hundred megabytes per minute depending on the frame rate and format. Use the data storage converter to add up your own file sizes, then leave at least 10% to 20% free, because full drives slow down and backups need room to grow.
Transfer times
Connection speeds are quoted in bits per second, while files are measured in bytes. To estimate a download, convert the file to bits first. A 50 GB game is 400,000 megabits; at 100 Mbps that takes 4,000 seconds, about 67 minutes, at the best case. Real transfers are slower because of protocol overhead and shared connections. The data storage converter handles the byte-to-bit step so the rest is simple division.
Related converters and calculators
For transfer speeds and number systems:
- Data transfer rate converter: Mbps, MB/s and more
- Bandwidth calculator: download time
- Number base converter: binary and hex
- Binary converter: binary arithmetic
Sources
NIST: Prefixes for binary multiples; BIPM: SI Brochure.
Questions about this calculator
How many bits are in a byte?
Eight. A byte is 8 bits, so 1 kilobyte (decimal) is 8,000 bits.
How do I convert MB to GB?
Divide by 1,000 for decimal units: 2,500 MB = 2.5 GB. For binary units, divide MiB by 1,024 to get GiB.
How do I convert GB to TB?
Divide by 1,000: 4,000 GB = 4 TB. In binary units, 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB.
What is the difference between GB and GiB?
A gigabyte (GB) is 10^9 bytes; a gibibyte (GiB) is 2^30 = 1,073,741,824 bytes, about 7.4 % larger.
Why does my 1 TB drive show 931 GB?
The drive holds 10^12 bytes. Windows divides by 1,024 three times and shows about 931 GiB, labelled GB.
Who defined KiB, MiB and GiB?
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced the binary prefixes in 1998; they are now part of IEC 80000-13.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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