Convert bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes using binary (1024-based) multiples.
How data storage conversion works
This category uses the binary multiples that operating systems and RAM sizes use: each step is 1,024, so 1 KB = 1,024 bytes and 1 MB = 1,024 KB. Drive manufacturers quote decimal multiples instead (1 GB = 1 billion bytes), which is why a 500 GB drive shows up as about 465 GiB.
| Unit | Equals |
|---|
| 1 Bit | 0.125 B |
| 1 Byte (B) | base unit |
| 1 Kilobyte (KB) | 1024 B |
| 1 Megabyte (MB) | 1048580 B |
| 1 Gigabyte (GB) | 1073740000 B |
| 1 Terabyte (TB) | 1099510000000 B |
All data storage conversions
Every data storage pair has its own quick-reference page with a conversion table:
Back to the full unit converter for all seven categories.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up ounces. The Weight category uses the ounce (oz), a unit of mass (28.3495 g). The Volume category uses the US fluid ounce (fl oz), a unit of capacity (29.5735 mL). One fluid ounce of water weighs about 1.04 oz, not exactly 1 oz, so always confirm which category you are in before converting.
- Confusing bits and bytes. File sizes are measured in bytes, network speeds in bits. In Data storage, 1 byte equals 8 bits, so a 100 Mbit per second connection transfers at most 12.5 megabytes per second.
- Assuming imperial gallons. Every volume unit here is US customary: 1 US gallon is 3.785 liters. A UK imperial gallon is 4.546 liters, roughly 20 percent larger, so results will not match UK fuel economy figures.
A quick accuracy check
Want to sanity-check any converter? Convert -40 from Celsius to Fahrenheit: the result must be exactly -40, the only temperature where the two scales meet. Then convert 0 Kelvin to Celsius: you should get -273.15, absolute zero. A converter that handles both edge cases correctly has sound temperature formulas, and this one does.
Frequently asked questions
Why is 1 KB equal to 1024 bytes here?
Computing traditionally uses binary multiples (2^10 = 1,024), matching how memory and operating systems report sizes. The strict SI names for these are kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB) and so on, but KB/MB/GB remain the common labels.
How many bits are in a byte?
Eight. Network speeds are quoted in bits per second (Mb/s) while file sizes use bytes — a 100 Mbit/s connection therefore downloads at most 12.5 megabytes per second.