Data Storage Converter

Data Storage Converter

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Data Storage Converter

Use the converter above to instantly convert between any two units of digital data storage. This converter supports bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes — covering every data storage conversion you are likely to need.

Whether you are comparing file sizes, calculating storage requirements, understanding your internet data plan, or working with computer specifications, this free converter gives you an instant accurate result.

How to convert data storage units

Data storage uses a binary hierarchy where each unit is 1,024 times larger than the previous one. So 1 kilobyte = 1,024 bytes, 1 megabyte = 1,024 kilobytes, 1 gigabyte = 1,024 megabytes, and so on.

This binary system used by operating systems differs from the decimal system used by storage manufacturers. A hard drive advertised as 1 TB contains exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes in decimal, but your computer displays it as approximately 931 GB in binary. This is why storage devices always appear slightly smaller than advertised.

The smallest unit is a bit — a single 0 or 1. Eight bits make one byte. Everything else builds from there. Internet speeds are typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps), not megabytes — so a 100 Mbps connection downloads at about 12.5 megabytes per second.

Data storage conversion reference table

Unit Bytes Bits
1 Byte (B)1 B8 bits
1 Kilobyte (KB)1,024 B8,192 bits
1 Megabyte (MB)1,048,576 B8,388,608 bits
1 Gigabyte (GB)1,073,741,824 B8,589,934,592 bits
1 Terabyte (TB)1,099,511,627,776 B8.796 trillion bits
1 Petabyte (PB)1,125,899,906,842,624 B9.007 quadrillion bits

Frequently asked questions

How many MB are in a GB?
1 GB = 1,024 MB in the binary system used by computers and operating systems. Storage manufacturers use the decimal system where 1 GB = 1,000 MB, which is why drives appear smaller than advertised when you plug them in.
How many bytes are in a kilobyte?
1 kilobyte = 1,024 bytes in the binary standard used by computers. The SI decimal standard defines 1 kilobyte = 1,000 bytes and calls it a kibibyte (KiB) to avoid confusion, though this term is rarely used in everyday language.
What is the difference between MB and Mb?
MB (capital B) = megabytes. Mb (lowercase b) = megabits. There are 8 bits in a byte, so 1 MB = 8 Mb. Internet speeds are quoted in Mbps (megabits per second), while file sizes use MB (megabytes). A 100 Mbps connection downloads at 12.5 MB per second.
How big is a terabyte?
1 terabyte = 1,024 GB = 1,048,576 MB. In practical terms, 1 TB can hold approximately 250,000 photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 200,000 songs. Most modern laptops come with 256 GB to 1 TB of storage.
Why does my 1TB hard drive show less than 1TB?
Hard drive manufacturers use the decimal system (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes) while your operating system uses the binary system (1 TB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes). A “1 TB” drive actually contains about 931 GB when measured by your computer. This is not a defect — it is a difference in measurement standards.