Data size converter

Enter a known data size and convert it between bits, bytes, decimal prefixes, and IEC binary prefixes.

Data size to convert
Converted data size

Contents

Read one data size in another unit

Two groups of data blocks compared with conversion arrows

Enter a file or storage size in either field. The converter updates the other field immediately and keeps decimal units such as GB separate from binary units such as GiB.

Every conversion passes through bits

One byte contains eight bits. Decimal prefixes grow by powers of 1,000, while IEC binary prefixes grow by powers of 1,024.

Q2=Q1ร—k1k2Q_{2}=Q_{1}\times\frac{k_{1}}{k_{2}}

Each k is the number of bits in one selected unit. The distinction follows the BIPM SI Brochure and the NIST binary-prefix table.

Three useful checks

Network figure: 8 Mbit equals 1 MB. Bits and bytes differ by a factor of eight, even when both use decimal prefixes.

File size: 1 GB equals 1,000 MB but only about 0.931322574615 GiB. The symbols describe different scales.

Memory amount: 512 MiB equals 536.870912 MB. The number changes because MiB is binary and MB is decimal.

The number on a drive is not always usable space

The converter changes units only. It does not subtract formatting, filesystem metadata, recovery partitions, reserved blocks, or compressed data.

Units per second describe a transfer rate, not a stored amount. Converting a rate into download time also requires the file size.

Questions about bits, bytes, GB, and GiB

The symbols look similar, but capitalization and the extra letter i change the factor.

How many bits are in one byte?

One byte contains exactly eight bits.

Is one kilobyte 1,000 or 1,024 bytes?

One kB is 1,000 bytes. One KiB is 1,024 bytes.

Why is 1 GB smaller than 1 GiB?

A GB contains 1,000,000,000 bytes. A GiB contains 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Can this calculate download time?

No. Download time also needs a transfer rate. This tool converts the data quantity only.

Does conversion change a file?

No. It only expresses the same stated quantity in another unit.

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