Data Size Converter: KB, MB, GB, TB
Convert data storage and file size units — bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes — with base-2 vs base-10 explained.
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Data Size Converter: KB, MB, GB, TB File sizes, storage capacities, and network speeds all use the same prefix names (kilo, mega, giga, tera) but are defined differently depending on whether you're talking to a hard drive manufacturer, an OS developer, or a network engineer. This dual system causes confusion in almost every computing context. --- What is The Two Competing Systems? Decimal (SI) — Used by Storage Manufacturers and Network Providers | Unit | Symbol | Bytes | |---|---|---| | Kilobyte | KB | 1,000 | | Megabyte | MB | 1,000,000 | | Gigabyte | GB | 1,000,000,000 | | Terabyte | TB | 1,000,000,000,000 | | Petabyte | PB | 1,000,000,000,000,000 | Binary (IEC) — Used by Operating Systems and RAM | Unit | Symbol | Bytes | |---|---|---| | Kibibyte | KiB | 1,024 | | Mebibyte | MiB |…
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert MB to GB?
In decimal (SI): divide MB by 1,000 to get GB. In binary (IEC): divide MiB by 1,024 to get GiB. Most file managers and operating systems display binary GiB but label them 'GB', which is technically incorrect. A file labeled 1 GB by Windows is actually 1 GiB = 1.074 decimal GB.
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) in SI/decimal = 1,000 bytes. KiB (kibibyte) in IEC binary = 1,024 bytes. The IEC 80000-13 standard introduced kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB), gibibyte (GiB) in 1998 to remove ambiguity. Hard drive manufacturers use KB = 1,000; operating systems traditionally use KiB but label it KB.
Why does my 1TB drive show less storage?
Drive manufacturers define 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (decimal). Windows and older macOS display storage in binary GiB, so 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = 931.32 GiB. Modern macOS (10.6+) switched to decimal and shows 1 TB correctly as ~1 TB.
How many bytes in a megabyte?
In decimal (SI): 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. In binary (IEC): 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes. The difference is about 4.9%. For network transfer speeds and storage capacity, the decimal definition is used. For RAM and some cache sizes, binary is conventional.
What is the difference between Mb and MB?
Capital B = bytes; lowercase b = bits. 1 MB = 8 Mb. Network speeds are quoted in bits per second (Mbps, Gbps), while file sizes use bytes (MB, GB). A 100 Mbps internet connection can download approximately 12.5 MB/s under ideal conditions.
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