What's the difference between KB and KiB?

KB (kilobyte) is decimal — 1,000 bytes. KiB (kibibyte) is binary — 1,024 bytes. The IEC introduced the i-prefixes in 1998 to remove ambiguity. RAM is always binary (a 16 GiB stick), network speeds are always decimal (Mbps), storage is mixed.

Which mode should I use — binary or decimal?

For RAM, file sizes shown in Windows/Linux, and most software contexts use binary (1024). For network bandwidth, hard drive marketing capacity, and SSD specs use decimal (1000). When in doubt, label your number with the explicit unit (GB vs GiB).

How big is 1 GB really?

Roughly: 250 MP3 songs (4 MB each), 200 photos from a 12 MP iPhone, 30 minutes of 1080p video, 2 hours of Netflix HD, or one short Linux ISO. A modern smartphone game install can easily eat 5–10 GB.

Why is megabit different from megabyte?

1 byte = 8 bits, so 100 Mbps internet downloads at most 12.5 MB/s (megabytes per second). ISPs market in megabits because it sounds bigger; download managers display in megabytes. Lowercase b = bit, uppercase B = byte.

Unit Converter

Convert digital storage units (Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB).

Converters

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Amount to convert

From unit

Bytes (B)0

Kilobytes (KB)0

Megabytes (MB)0

Gigabytes (GB)0

Terabytes (TB)0

Bit vs Byte: Common Misconceptions

Network speeds are often measured in Bits (lowercase 'b'), while storage is measured in Bytes (uppercase 'B'). Understanding that 1 Byte equals 8 Bits is crucial for choosing the right tech gear.

Base Conversions

• 1,024 KB = 1 MB • 1,024 MB = 1 GB • 100 Mbps Internet = ~12.5 MB/s download speed

Accuracy

We calculate up to 6 decimal places to ensure the highest accuracy for technical work.

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How to Use

1
Enter the number you want to convert in the input field.
2
Select the source unit (e.g. GB) from the dropdown on the left.
3
Select the target unit (e.g. MB) from the dropdown on the right.
4
Toggle between binary (1024) and decimal (1000) mode to match your context.
5
The result updates instantly — copy it with the copy button.

Use Cases

Checking File Sizes

Convert a file size from bytes to MB or GB before uploading or comparing storage.

Planning Cloud Storage

Estimate how much storage a project will need by converting total file sizes.

Understanding Drive Specs

Clarify why a '1 TB' drive shows differently in Windows vs macOS.

Network Speed Math

Convert Mbps to MB/s to understand your actual download speed in real terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Convert digital storage units between Bytes, KB, MB, GB, and TB instantly. Useful for developers checking file sizes, IT admins planning storage, and anyone confused by why their '1 TB' drive shows 931 GB.

Because manufacturers use decimal (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes) but Windows displays binary (1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes). Same physical capacity, different math. macOS switched to decimal in 10.6, so it shows the marketing number.

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