Data Storage Converter
Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB and TB.
Results update as you type.
How it works
A data storage converter restates a quantity of digital information in a different unit, moving between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and petabytes. It reduces your figure to a common base and scales out to the unit you choose, using binary (1024-based) steps where each rung of the ladder is 1,024 times the one below and a byte is eight bits. This matters because storage figures drive real decisions and the units are easy to muddle. Whether a video library fits on a drive, how long a file takes to download, or whether a backup will complete all hinge on comparing sizes in a consistent unit. A data storage converter makes those comparisons reliable, and the binary basis reflects how operating systems actually report file and disk sizes. The binary method is used because computer memory is organised in powers of two, so 1,024 rather than 1,000 is the natural step between units. Drive manufacturers, by contrast, often use decimal (1000-based) units, which is why a drive sold as 1 TB shows less usable space in your operating system. IT staff, developers, students and anyone managing files or bandwidth reach for a data storage converter whenever sizes appear in mismatched units.
Binary units: 1 KB = 1024 B, 1 MB = 1024 KB, and so on (1 byte = 8 bits)
Each unit is defined as a fixed number of bytes — a power of 1,024 in the binary convention, with a byte equal to 8 bits. The input is reduced to bytes by multiplying by its unit's byte value, then divided by the target unit's byte value. This works because computer memory is addressed in powers of two, so 1,024 is the natural multiplier and every unit is an exact byte constant.
Source:International System of Units (SI) — NIST
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter value, from and to.
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Converted size updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Manufacturers measure capacity in decimal units, where 1 TB equals 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, while operating systems typically report in binary units, where 1 TB is 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. Dividing the decimal capacity by the larger binary unit makes the reported figure look smaller — about seven percent less at the terabyte scale — even though no space is actually missing. Formatting overhead can reduce usable space slightly further.
How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?
In the binary convention this converter uses, there are 1,024 megabytes in a gigabyte, matching how operating systems count. In the decimal convention favoured by storage marketing, it is 1,000. The gap compounds at each level, so the difference between binary and decimal grows larger for terabytes and petabytes. This calculator uses the 1,024 step throughout for consistency with reported file sizes.
How many bits are in a byte?
Eight bits make one byte, which is why file sizes in bytes and connection speeds in bits differ by a factor of eight. A byte is the smallest unit that typically stores a single character, while a bit is a single binary digit. Network speeds are usually quoted in bits per second, so an 80 Mbps line transfers roughly 10 megabytes per second before overhead.
What is the difference between binary and decimal storage units?
Binary units step by 1,024 (2 to the tenth power) and reflect how memory is physically addressed; decimal units step by 1,000 and follow the standard metric prefixes. Strictly, the binary units should be labelled kibibyte, mebibyte and so on, but common usage keeps KB, MB and GB for both. This converter applies the 1,024 binary step, which matches what most operating systems display.
How do I convert MB to GB?
Divide the megabyte figure by 1,024 to get gigabytes in binary units. So 1,024 MB is exactly 1 GB, and 512 MB is 0.5 GB. To go the other way, multiply gigabytes by 1,024. If a source is using decimal units, the divisor would be 1,000 instead, but for file and disk sizes shown by your operating system, 1,024 is the correct step.