Convert between bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB and binary KiB/MiB/GiB.
Converted instantly in your browser.
How do you convert between bytes, MB, GB and binary units like MiB?
Decimal units step by 1000 (1 KB = 1000 bytes); binary units step by 1024 (1 KiB = 1024 bytes); and 1 byte = 8 bits. So 1 GB equals 1000 MB, 1,000,000 KB or about 953.7 MiB. Drive makers advertise decimal sizes while operating systems often report binary, which is why a 1 TB drive shows as roughly 931 GiB.
Understanding your result
Drive makers advertise decimal sizes (1 TB = 1000 GB) while operating systems often report binary sizes, which is why a “1 TB” drive shows as roughly 931 GiB.
Formula and method
Decimal units step by 1000 (1 KB = 1000 bytes); binary units step by 1024 (1 KiB = 1024 bytes). 1 byte = 8 bits.
Assumptions and limitations
The key subtlety is decimal versus binary: decimal units (KB, MB, GB) use factors of 1,000, while binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB) use 1,024. Storage is usually sold in decimal but operating systems often report in binary, which is why a "1 TB" drive shows as about 931 GiB. The tool converts sizes, not transfer time, which also depends on connection speed.
Worked example
1 GB equals 1000 MB, 1,000,000 KB or about 953.7 MiB.
Common digital-storage conversions
| Convert | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 byte | 8 bits |
| 1 KB | 1,000 bytes |
| 1 MB | 1,000 KB |
| 1 GB | 1,000 MB |
| 1 TB | 1,000 GB |
| 1 GiB | 1,024 MiB |
| 1 GB | 0.931323 GiB |
| 1 MiB | 1.04858 MB |
| 1 TiB | 1.09951 TB |
| 1 GiB | 1.0737×10^9 bytes |
How to use this tool
- Enter a value and choose the unit it’s in.
- Choose the unit to convert to.
- Press Convert.
About the Digital Storage Converter
The Digital Storage Converter changes any data size between decimal units (KB, MB, GB) and binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB), so file sizes and bandwidth always make sense.
Who should use this tool
Anyone making sense of file, drive and bandwidth sizes — people comparing a drive's advertised capacity with what their computer reports, developers working with byte counts, and users estimating download sizes. It covers bits and bytes through to petabytes, in both decimal (KB, MB, GB) and binary (KiB, MiB, GiB) units.
Benefits
- Handles both decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) units so nothing is ambiguous
- Explains the 1000-vs-1024 gap that makes drives look "smaller" than advertised
- Converts across the full range from bits to petabytes
- Runs privately in the browser with no upload
Practical use cases
- Explaining why a 1 TB drive shows as roughly 931 GB in the operating system
- Converting a file size between megabytes and mebibytes
- Estimating how many photos or files fit in a given capacity
- Turning a bandwidth or quota figure into familiar units
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
The drive is sized in decimal gigabytes (1000-based) but your OS counts in binary gibibytes (1024-based), so the reported number looks smaller.
Why does my 1 TB drive show as 931 GB?
Manufacturers sell storage in decimal terabytes (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes), but operating systems measure in binary. That same drive is about 931 GiB (binary), and many systems label binary units as "GB", which makes the number look smaller.
What is the difference between MB and MiB?
A megabyte (MB) is 1,000,000 bytes, while a mebibyte (MiB) is 1,048,576 bytes (1,024 x 1,024). MiB is about 4.9% larger than MB, and the gap grows for gigabyte and terabyte units.