A phone photo in kilobytes
- Input
- A photo of 4 MB (decimal) in KB and KiB.
- Working
- KB: 4 × 1,000 = 4,000 KB. KiB: 4,000,000 ÷ 1,024 = 3,906.25 KiB.
- Result
- 4 MB = 4,000 KB = 3,906.25 KiB
Data Storage Converter
Convert bytes, kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes — decimal and binary units kept separate and explained, in your browser. Runs entirely in your browser — your numbers never leave this device.
Gigabytes (GB, decimal) → Gibibytes (GiB, binary)
0.931323 GiB
1 GB = 0.931323 GiB
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Bits (bit) | 8,000,000,000 bit |
| Bytes (B) | 1,000,000,000 B |
| Kilobytes (KB, decimal) (KB) | 1,000,000 KB |
| Megabytes (MB, decimal) (MB) | 1,000 MB |
| Gigabytes (GB, decimal) (GB) | 1 GB |
| Terabytes (TB, decimal) (TB) | 0.001 TB |
| Petabytes (PB, decimal) (PB) | 0.000001 PB |
| Kibibytes (KiB, binary) (KiB) | 976,562.5 KiB |
| Mebibytes (MiB, binary) (MiB) | 953.674316 MiB |
| Gibibytes (GiB, binary) (GiB) | 0.931323 GiB |
| Tebibytes (TiB, binary) (TiB) | 0.000909 TiB |
| Pebibytes (PiB, binary) (PiB) | 8.88178e-7 PiB |
How it works
Decimal: bytes = value × 1,000^n (KB = 1,000, MB = 1,000², GB = 1,000³). Binary: bytes = value × 1,024^n (KiB = 1,024, MiB = 1,024², GiB = 1,024³)
| Decimal unit | Bytes | Binary unit | Bytes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilobyte (KB) | 1,000 | Kibibyte (KiB) | 1,024 |
| Megabyte (MB) | 1,000,000 | Mebibyte (MiB) | 1,048,576 |
| Gigabyte (GB) | 1,000,000,000 | Gibibyte (GiB) | 1,073,741,824 |
| Terabyte (TB) | 1,000,000,000,000 | Tebibyte (TiB) | 1,099,511,627,776 |
| Petabyte (PB) | 1,000,000,000,000,000 | Pebibyte (PiB) | 1,125,899,906,842,624 |
Data storage is the one conversion family with two legitimate answers, because two systems are in live use. The decimal system follows the ordinary metric prefixes: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Storage makers sell drives in these units. The binary system uses powers of 1,024: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes, and operating systems have historically reported sizes in these while labelling them KB, MB and GB.
That mismatch explains the classic missing-space puzzle. A drive sold as 1 GB holds 1,000,000,000 bytes; shown in binary units that is 1,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = 0.931 GiB, so it appears about 7% smaller. Nothing is missing — the ruler changed. The gap grows with size, because each step up compounds the 1,000-versus-1,024 difference: about 2.4% at kilobytes, 4.9% at megabytes, 7.4% at gigabytes and roughly 10% at terabytes.
This converter keeps the two families labelled separately — KB, MB, GB for decimal and KiB, MiB, GiB for binary — and converts within and between them through bytes. A byte is 8 bits, so network speeds quoted in megabits per second divide by 8 before they become megabytes per second, a separate and equally common source of confusion.
Worked examples
Gigabytes to megabytes, both ways
- Input
- 1 GB in MB and in MiB.
- Working
- MB: 1,000,000,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 1,000 MB. MiB: 1,000,000,000 ÷ 1,048,576 = 953.6743 MiB.
- Result
- 1 GB = 1,000 MB = 953.67 MiB
Megabytes to gigabytes
- Input
- 2,048 MB to GB and GiB.
- Working
- GB: 2,048 ÷ 1,000 = 2.048 GB. GiB: 2,048,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = 1.9073 GiB.
- Result
- 2,048 MB = 2.048 GB = 1.91 GiB
Frequently asked questions
Why does my 1 TB drive show as about 931 GB?
It is showing binary units under a decimal label. The drive holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 TB decimal). Divided by the binary gibibyte, 1,073,741,824, that is about 931.32 GiB, which many systems display as 931 GB. The capacity is as sold; only the unit used to report it changed.
Is a megabyte 1,000 or 1,024 kilobytes?
Both conventions exist, which is exactly the problem. In decimal units, 1 MB = 1,000 KB (1,000,000 bytes). In binary units, 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB (1,048,576 bytes). This page labels the two families separately so you always know which ruler a figure uses.
What is the difference between MB and Mb?
Capital B is bytes, small b is bits, and a byte is 8 bits. Internet speeds are sold in megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are in megabytes (MB), so a 100 Mbps connection downloads at most 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB per second before overheads.
How many MB are in 16 GB?
In decimal units, 16 × 1,000 = 16,000 MB. In binary units, 16 GB is 16,000,000,000 bytes, which is 16,000,000,000 ÷ 1,048,576 = 15,258.79 MiB. State which family you mean whenever the figure will be compared with a system readout.
When should I use KiB, MiB and GiB?
Use the binary units when matching what an operating system, memory specification or file tool reports in powers of 1,024, and decimal units when matching storage packaging, data allowances or transfer sizes quoted in powers of 1,000. Converting through bytes, as this page does, keeps the two honest.
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