Data Size Converter - Convert KB, MB, GB, TB & More
Free Online Data Size Conversion Tool
Decimal Units (Base-10)
Binary Units (Base-2)
Free Online Data Size Conversion Tool
Our converter supports both decimal (base-10) and binary (base-2) units, making it perfect for developers, IT professionals, students, and anyone working with digital storage, file sizes, network bandwidth, or data transfer calculations.
The tool handles all common data units from tiny bytes to massive exabytes, ensuring you have the flexibility to work with any data size scenario.
How to Use the Data Size Converter
- Enter a value in any data size unit field (e.g., type "100" in the megabytes field).
- All other data size units will be calculated and displayed automatically in real-time.
- The converter works in both directions - enter gigabytes to see megabytes, or bytes to see kilobytes.
- Values are formatted with appropriate precision for easy reading.
- No registration, download, or installation required - works instantly in your browser.
Tip: Use this converter for calculating storage requirements, understanding file sizes, planning data transfers, or comparing storage capacities across different devices and systems.
Supported Data Size Units
Our data size converter includes all commonly used data storage and transfer units:
Standard Units (Base-10)
- Byte (B) - Basic unit of digital information
- Kilobyte (KB) - 1,000 bytes
- Megabyte (MB) - 1,000 KB or 1,000,000 bytes
- Gigabyte (GB) - 1,000 MB or 1 billion bytes
- Terabyte (TB) - 1,000 GB or 1 trillion bytes
- Petabyte (PB) - 1,000 TB
- Exabyte (EB) - 1,000 PB
Binary Units (Base-2)
- Kibibyte (KiB) - 1,024 bytes
- Mebibyte (MiB) - 1,024 KiB
- Gibibyte (GiB) - 1,024 MiB
- Tebibyte (TiB) - 1,024 GiB
- Pebibyte (PiB) - 1,024 TiB
- Exbibyte (EiB) - 1,024 PiB
Note: Standard units (KB, MB, GB) use decimal notation (base-10) and are commonly used for storage devices and file sizes. Binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB) use binary notation (base-2) and are more accurate for memory and RAM calculations. Operating systems like Windows often display "GB" but actually calculate using binary (GiB) values.
Understanding Data Size Units
What is a Byte?
A byte is the fundamental unit of digital information, typically consisting of 8 bits. It can represent a single character, like a letter or number. All larger data units are built from bytes.
Decimal vs Binary: The 1000 vs 1024 Debate
Historically, computer storage used binary (base-2) calculations where 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. However, hard drive manufacturers use decimal (base-10) where 1 KB = 1,000 bytes. This difference becomes more significant with larger units:
- 1 TB (decimal) = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
- 1 TiB (binary) = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
- Difference: About 9.95% more capacity in binary
This is why a "1 TB" hard drive shows as approximately "931 GB" in Windows - the drive uses decimal, while Windows uses binary calculations.
Common File Size References
- Text file: 1-100 KB
- Digital photo: 2-5 MB
- MP3 song: 3-10 MB
- HD movie: 4-8 GB
- 4K movie: 15-100 GB
- Video game: 20-150 GB
Common Use Cases
- Storage Planning: Calculate how many files fit on a USB drive, hard disk, or cloud storage
- Data Transfer Estimates: Determine upload/download times based on file sizes and bandwidth
- Website Optimization: Understand image and asset sizes for web performance
- Database Management: Plan storage requirements for databases and backups
- Mobile Data Usage: Monitor and manage mobile data consumption
- Video Production: Calculate storage needs for raw footage and rendered videos
- Software Development: Optimize application size and memory usage
- IT Infrastructure: Plan server and network storage capacity
- Education: Learn and understand digital storage concepts
Why Use Our Data Size Converter?
- ✅ Instant Real-Time Conversions: See all unit conversions simultaneously as you type
- ✅ Accurate Calculations: Uses precise conversion factors for both decimal and binary units
- ✅ Comprehensive Unit Support: Covers all common units from bytes to exabytes
- ✅ Dual System Support: Includes both standard (KB, MB, GB) and binary (KiB, MiB, GiB) units
- ✅ User-Friendly Interface: Clean, intuitive design works on all devices
- ✅ No Installation Required: Works directly in your web browser
- ✅ Mobile Responsive: Use on desktop, tablet, or smartphone
- ✅ Privacy-Focused: All calculations happen locally in your browser
- ✅ Free Forever: No registration, fees, or hidden costs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the difference between MB and MiB?
MB (megabyte) uses decimal (base-10) where 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. MiB (mebibyte) uses binary (base-2) where 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes. MiB is about 4.86% larger than MB.
How many GB is 1 TB?
1 terabyte (TB) equals 1,000 gigabytes (GB) in decimal notation, or 1,024 gibibytes (GiB) in binary notation.
Why does my 1TB hard drive show as 931GB in Windows?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes), while Windows uses binary (1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes) for calculations. When Windows divides the drive's byte count by 1,024³, you get approximately 931 GiB, which Windows displays as "GB".
Can I convert between decimal and binary units?
Yes! Our converter shows both decimal units (KB, MB, GB, etc.) and binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB, etc.) simultaneously, making it easy to understand the differences.
Is this converter accurate for professional use?
Absolutely. We use precise mathematical conversion factors and handle both decimal and binary systems accurately. It's suitable for professional IT work, development, and technical applications.
What is an exabyte?
An exabyte (EB) is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 quintillion bytes) or 1,000 petabytes. For perspective, all words ever spoken by humans would be approximately 5 exabytes of data.