Data Storage Converter: Bytes, Bits, and Decimal or Binary Units
A data storage converter expresses a quantity of data in another unit. Convert bytes, decimal kilobytes through petabytes, binary kibibytes through pebibytes, and common bit units. Choosing the correct prefix is essential because decimal and binary scales use different factors.
Decimal storage units use powers of 1,000
Decimal prefixes represent powers of ten: 1 kB is 1,000 bytes, 1 MB is 1,000,000 bytes, and 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes. Each step to the next prefix multiplies by 1,000. These prefixes must not be used to mean powers of 1,024; see NIST’s SI prefix guidance.
One TB equals 1,000 GB, and one PB equals 1,000 TB. The lowercase k in kB is the decimal kilo prefix; the uppercase B identifies bytes.
Binary units use powers of 1,024
Binary prefixes have distinct names and symbols. One KiB is 1,024 bytes; one MiB is 1,048,576 bytes; one GiB is 1,073,741,824 bytes. Each step multiplies by 1,024. NIST’s binary-prefix reference distinguishes these quantities from decimal units.
One TiB equals 1,024 GiB, and one PiB equals 1,024 TiB. Select binary units explicitly rather than assuming a label such as MB always means MiB.
What is the difference between bits and bytes?
One byte contains eight bits in this converter. Multiply bytes by eight to get bits, or divide bits by eight to get bytes. A value of 80 bits therefore represents 10 bytes.
Megabits and megabytes differ by a factor of eight when their prefixes use the same decimal scale. One MB is 8 Mbit. This page uses the explicit symbols bit, kbit, Mbit, and Gbit to distinguish bit quantities from byte quantities.
How to convert data size units
Represent the source and target units by their size in bytes. Multiply the input by the source factor and divide by the target factor.
Converted size = input size × source byte factor ÷ target byte factor
To convert GB to GiB, multiply by 1,000,000,000 and divide by 1,073,741,824. To convert GiB to GB, reverse those factors. Bits have a byte factor of 1/8.
Worked data conversion examples
1 GB to GiB: 1,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 is approximately 0.9313225746 GiB.
1 MiB to bytes: 1 × 1,048,576 gives 1,048,576 B. 1 MB to KiB: 1,000,000 ÷ 1,024 gives 976.5625 KiB.
1 TB to GiB: 1,000,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 gives approximately 931.3225746155 GiB. The differing number comes from the unit scale; the same byte count is being represented.
100 Mbit to MB: divide by eight to get 12.5 MB. This is a data quantity, rather than a download-time calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Does MB mean 1,000,000 or 1,048,576 bytes?
Here, MB is explicitly decimal and means 1,000,000 bytes. Choose MiB for 1,048,576 bytes.
Can I convert fractional bytes?
Yes. The calculator performs numeric unit conversion, including decimal values. A fractional-byte result can express a mathematical quantity, even though a file’s actual byte count is whole.
Can I enter a negative size?
No. Data sizes must be zero or positive. Zero converts to zero in every supported unit.
Does this predict available storage space?
No. It converts a data quantity between units. It does not subtract file-system overhead, reserved space, or existing files.
Can I calculate download time?
No. This page converts data quantities. Time calculations also require a transfer rate with a time unit, such as megabits per second.
Why are very large results rounded?
The browser uses floating-point arithmetic, and integers beyond its exact range can lose precision. Results show up to ten decimal places or scientific notation, rather than an exact arbitrary-size integer calculation.
What does Swap do?
After conversion, Swap uses the unrounded converted value as the input and reverses the units. Before conversion, it reverses the selected units while keeping the entered value.