Data Storage Converter

Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB and bits instantly. Enter a value to compare file sizes, storage capacity and data transfer in both binary and decimal units.

Conversion Mode

How to Use

  1. Enter the value

    Type the data storage value you want to convert.

  2. Select the units

    Choose the source unit (e.g., GB) and the target unit (e.g., MB).

  3. View the result

    Click Convert to see the converted data storage value.

What are data storage units?

Data storage is measured in units that express the amount of information, and the base unit for all digital data is the byte. One byte consists of 8 bits and is roughly the size of a single English character. As capacity grows, units climb from KB to MB, GB, and TB.

The key point is that two systems coexist. Because computers operate in binary, they use the binary system (KiB, MiB, GiB) that increases in steps of 1024 (2^10), while storage manufacturers and the telecom industry use the easier-to-calculate decimal system (KB, MB, GB) based on 1000.

This difference is why a 1TB external drive shows up as about 931GB in Windows. When comparing file sizes, choosing a cloud plan, or estimating backup capacity, converting accurately between the two systems is essential to avoid confusion.

Calculation Formula

First convert every unit to bytes (B), then divide by the target unit.

Result = value × (source unit factor) / (target unit factor)

The factors are based on bytes. In binary mode, KiB=1024, MiB=1024^2, GiB=1024^3; in decimal mode, KB=1000, MB=1000^2, GB=1000^3.

Example: 5GiB → MiB in binary mode

5 × 1073741824 / 1048576 = 5120 MiB

So 5GiB = 5,120MiB (1GiB = 1024MiB). In decimal mode, 5GB would equal 5,000MB.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between binary and decimal units?
Binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB) increase in steps of 1024 and are used in computer memory. Decimal units (KB, MB, GB) increase in steps of 1000 and are used by storage manufacturers and the telecom industry. The IEC standard (1998) formalized this distinction.
What is the difference between GB and GiB?
1GB (gigabyte) is 1,000,000,000 bytes (10^9), while 1GiB (gibibyte) is 1,073,741,824 bytes (2^30). The roughly 7.37% gap is why a 1TB hard drive shows up as about 931GiB in the operating system.
Why does a storage device's labeled capacity differ from its actual capacity?
Storage manufacturers label capacity using the decimal (1000) basis, but operating systems (such as Windows) calculate and display it using the binary (1024) basis. For example, a 500GB hard drive appears as about 465GiB in the operating system.
How many MB are in 1GB?
In decimal mode (GB), 1GB = 1,000MB, and in binary mode (GiB), 1GiB = 1,024MiB. So depending on which system you use, there is a 24MB difference.
How do bits and bytes differ?
One byte is 8 bits. Internet speeds are usually expressed in bits (Mbps, bps), while file sizes are expressed in bytes (MB, GB). A 100Mbps line delivers an actual download speed of about 12.5MB/s because you have to divide by 8.
Can this converter mix binary and decimal in a single conversion?
No. Only one mode applies at a time. Binary mode supports only B, KiB, MiB, GiB, and TiB, while decimal mode supports only B, KB, MB, GB, and TB. To convert directly between the two systems (e.g., GiB→GB), you need to switch modes and compare on a byte basis.
Up to which TB unit does this convert?
This converter supports five levels, from byte (B) up to terabyte (TB/TiB). 1TB = 1,000GB (decimal) and 1TiB = 1,024GiB (binary), while the next level up, PB (petabyte), equals 1,000TB.
Why don't operating systems and manufacturers use a unified unit?
A computer's internal addressing scheme naturally favors powers of two, so operating systems have kept the 1024 basis, while manufacturers prefer the 1000 basis because the numbers look larger and the math is easier. The IEC created the KiB/MiB notation to make the distinction clear, but Windows still displays 1024-based values as 'GB,' so the confusion remains.
2026 international standards

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