Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB and PB. Supports both decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) units.
What Is Data Storage Converter?
Data storage units measure the capacity of digital storage devices and file sizes. The most common units are bytes (B), kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB) and terabytes (TB). Each step is a factor of 1,024 in binary (used by operating systems) or 1,000 in decimal (used by storage manufacturers), which is why a "500 GB" hard drive shows as approximately 465 GB in your operating system.
This discrepancy between decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) units causes widespread confusion. A kilobyte is 1,000 bytes in SI notation but 1,024 bytes in binary (technically called a kibibyte). This converter handles both systems and makes the distinction clear, so you can convert accurately for any context.
How to Use This Tool
Enter the value you want to convert.
Select the source unit (bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB).
Select the target unit.
Choose between binary (1024-based) and decimal (1000-based) calculation.
View the converted result instantly.
Tips & Best Practices
Operating systems use binary units (1 KB = 1,024 bytes) while storage manufacturers use decimal (1 KB = 1,000 bytes) — this explains the discrepancy.
To quickly estimate: 1 GB ≈ 1 billion bytes (decimal) or about 953 MB (binary).
A standard HD movie is roughly 4–5 GB; a photo is 3–8 MB; a song is 3–10 MB.
Network speeds (Mbps) use decimal and bits, while storage uses binary and bytes — do not mix them without converting.
Common Use Cases
Understanding why a hard drive shows less capacity than advertised.
Calculating storage requirements for backups, migrations or cloud services.
Converting between units when comparing storage products or pricing.
Estimating download times by converting file sizes alongside network speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) = 1000 bytes (decimal/SI). KiB (kibibyte) = 1024 bytes (binary/IEC). OS often uses binary units.