Convert data sizes in seconds. Enter a value, choose the unit you have and the unit you want, and see the converted size instantly.
This converter uses 1 byte = 8 bits and 1 KB = 1,024 bytes (binary units), which is how computers measure storage.
1. Enter the value to convert. 2. Choose the unit you have (from) and the unit you want (to). 3. Click Convert Data Size to see the result.
File sizes, internet speeds and storage are all measured in data units — bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes — and it is easy to mix them up. Is a 2 GB file bigger than a 2,000 MB file? How many megabytes are in a terabyte? This free data unit converter answers those questions instantly. Enter any value, pick the units, and it converts between bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB and TB, and also shows the size in bytes and bits so you can check your answer.
Data units follow a simple pattern: each step up is 1,024 times bigger. One byte is 8 bits. One kilobyte (KB) is 1,024 bytes. One megabyte (MB) is 1,024 KB. One gigabyte (GB) is 1,024 MB. One terabyte (TB) is 1,024 GB. That is why a "1 TB" hard drive shows about 931 GB on your computer — the drive maker counts in 1,000s, while the computer counts in 1,024s.
Suppose you have a 2 GB video file and you want to know how many MB it is. One GB is 1,024 MB, so 2 GB is 2 times 1,024, which is 2,048 MB. In bytes, that is 2,048 times 1,024 times 1,024, which is 2,147,483,648 bytes. Try it in the converter above: enter 2, choose GB to MB, and check that your result matches 2,048 MB. Then try GB to bytes and check the result.
Internet speeds are measured in bits, not bytes, which confuses many people. A 100 Mbps (megabits per second) connection downloads at 100 divided by 8, which is 12.5 megabytes per second, not 100 megabytes per second. So a 1,000 MB file takes 1,000 divided by 12.5, which is 80 seconds, not 10 seconds. The key fact is simple: 8 bits equal 1 byte. Try it in the converter above: enter 8, choose Bit to Byte, and check that the result is 1 byte.
The data unit ladder is: bit, byte, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB (petabyte). One byte is 8 bits, and each larger unit is 1,024 times the one below it: 1 KB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MB = 1,024 KB, 1 GB = 1,024 MB, 1 TB = 1,024 GB. To convert to a smaller unit, multiply by 1,024 for each step down; to convert to a larger unit, divide by 1,024 for each step up. For example, 5 GB is 5 times 1,024, which is 5,120 MB, and 5,120 MB is 5,120 times 1,024, which is 5,242,880 KB. Storage makers sometimes use 1,000 instead of 1,024, which is why a drive's stated size and its size on your computer differ.
Remember bits and bytes are different. Internet speeds use bits (Mbps), while file sizes use bytes (MB). Divide bits by 8 to get bytes. Check the unit on your bill. A "100 MB" mobile data pack is very different from "100 GB" — a thousand times different. Use GB for big files. Videos and games are measured in GB, while photos and documents are usually in MB or KB. Know your storage. Before you buy a phone or a drive, check how many GB you really need for your photos, videos and apps. Watch the 1,024 vs 1,000 trap. A 1 TB drive shows about 931 GB on a computer, because makers count in 1,000s.
Confusing bits with bytes. A bit is written with a small "b" and a byte with a big "B": 100 Mbps is 12.5 MB/s, not 100 MB/s. Using 1,000 instead of 1,024. Computers measure storage in 1,024s, so 1 GB is 1,024 MB, not 1,000 MB. Forgetting the 8 bits per byte. There are 8 bits in a byte, so a 1 MB file is 8 megabits, not 1 megabit. Mixing up MB and Mb. MB means megabytes and Mb means megabits; the capital B matters. Assuming all GB are equal. A drive maker's GB and a computer's GB can differ by about 7 percent because of the 1,000 vs 1,024 difference.
Pro Tip: To estimate a download time, divide the file size in MB by your speed in MB/s. A 1,000 MB file on a 12.5 MB/s connection takes about 80 seconds.
Note: This converter uses binary units (1 KB = 1,024 bytes), which is how computers measure storage. Some drive makers use decimal units (1 KB = 1,000 bytes), so their stated sizes may look slightly different.
How many MB are in 1 GB? 1 GB is 1,024 MB. So 2 GB is 2,048 MB and 5 GB is 5,120 MB.
How many bytes are in 1 KB? 1 KB is 1,024 bytes. 1 MB is 1,024 KB, 1 GB is 1,024 MB and 1 TB is 1,024 GB.
What is the difference between a bit and a byte? A bit is a single 0 or 1, while a byte is 8 bits. File sizes are measured in bytes (KB, MB, GB), while internet speeds are measured in bits (Kbps, Mbps).
Why does my 1 TB drive show only 931 GB? Drive makers count 1 TB as 1,000 GB, but computers count 1 GB as 1,024 MB, so 1,000,000,000,000 bytes works out to about 931 GB on your computer.
How do I convert Mbps to MB/s? Divide by 8. A 100 Mbps connection downloads at 12.5 MB/s. That is why a 1,000 MB file takes about 80 seconds, not 10 seconds.
How many GB is a 2-hour HD movie? A 2-hour HD movie is usually 2 to 4 GB, while a 4K movie can be 10 to 20 GB. A single photo from a phone is usually 2 to 5 MB.
What is bigger: 2,000 MB or 2 GB? 2 GB is bigger. 2 GB is 2,048 MB, so it is 48 MB more than 2,000 MB.
What comes after TB? After terabyte (TB) comes petabyte (PB), which is 1,024 TB. After that comes exabyte (EB), which is 1,024 PB.