Data Storage Converter
Convert digital storage between bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB and binary units.
Results update as you type.
About this calculator
A data storage converter changes a digital size between bits and bytes and their multiples, converting through the byte as a common base. It covers both the decimal SI units — kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte and petabyte, each a power of 1,000 — and the binary IEC units — kibibyte, mebibyte, gibibyte and so on, each a power of 1,024.
Keeping the two families apart is the whole point: 1 KB is 1,000 bytes but 1 KiB is 1,024 bytes, and the gap widens at each step, reaching about 10% by the terabyte. There are always 8 bits in a byte, whichever family you use.
Worked example: to convert 500 megabytes to gigabytes in SI units, divide by 1,000, giving 0.5 GB. To see why a "1 TB" drive shows as about 931 GiB, divide 1,000,000,000,000 bytes by 1,073,741,824, the number of bytes in a gibibyte. A results table lists the size in every unit at once, handy for sizing downloads, disks and bandwidth.
Frequently asked questions
Is a kilobyte 1000 or 1024 bytes?
It depends on the unit. The SI kilobyte (KB) is 1,000 bytes, while the binary kibibyte (KiB) is 1,024 bytes. Storage is usually sold in decimal units and reported by some software in binary ones, which is why a "1 TB" drive shows as ~931 GiB.
How many bits are in a byte?
There are 8 bits in a byte. Network speeds are usually quoted in bits per second, so a 100 Mbps link transfers at most about 12.5 MB per second.
How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?
In decimal SI units, 1 GB = 1,000 MB. In binary units, 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB.
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Manufacturers sell drives in decimal units (a "1 TB" drive is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes), but many operating systems report size in binary units. Dividing by 1,073,741,824 turns that 1 TB into about 931 GiB, so no space is actually missing.
How do I convert megabits to megabytes?
Divide megabits by 8, because a byte is 8 bits. A 100 Mbps connection therefore transfers at most about 12.5 megabytes per second, and this data storage converter treats bits and bytes with that 8-to-1 ratio.
What is the difference between a megabyte and a mebibyte?
A megabyte (MB) is 1,000,000 bytes, while a mebibyte (MiB) is 1,048,576 bytes (1,024²). The binary mebibyte is about 4.9% larger.
API — use this calculator from code
Call this calculator as a free JSON endpoint — no key required. Send the field values below as query parameters or JSON. Read the full API docs →
Endpoint
GET https://calculator.free/api/v1/data-storage/curl
curl "https://calculator.free/api/v1/data-storage/?amount=1&from=mb&to=gb"JavaScript fetch()
const r = await fetch(
"https://calculator.free/api/v1/data-storage/?" + new URLSearchParams({
"amount": "1",
"from": "mb",
"to": "gb"
}));
const data = await r.json();
console.log(data.results);Results are estimates for general guidance only, not financial, medical or tax advice.