Data Storage
bits, bytes, MB, GB, TB
About This Calculator
Digital data is stored and transmitted in bits and bytes, with each step up the scale being 1,024 times larger (binary) rather than 1,000 (decimal). Understanding these conversions matters for file sizes, storage capacity, internet speeds, and memory specifications.
Formula
1 byte = 8 bits
1 KB = 1,024 bytes; 1 MB = 1,024 KB; 1 GB = 1,024 MB; 1 TB = 1,024 GB
Example Calculation
A 4.7 GB DVD — how many MB and KB does it hold?
- MB = 4.7 × 1,024 = 4,813 MB
- KB = 4,813 × 1,024 = 4,928,512 KB
4.7 GB = 4,813 MB = 4,928,512 KB
Data Storage Units
| Unit | Bytes | Bits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Byte | 1 | 8 |
| 1 KB | 1,024 | 8,192 |
| 1 MB | 1,048,576 | 8,388,608 |
| 1 GB | 1,073,741,824 | 8,589,934,592 |
| 1 TB | 1,099,511,627,776 | ~8.8 trillion |
| 1 PB | 1,125,899,906,842,624 | ~9 quadrillion |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 1 KB equal to 1,024 bytes and not 1,000?
Computers work in binary (base 2), and 2^10 = 1,024 is the nearest power of 2 to 1,000. Hard drive manufacturers often use 1 KB = 1,000 bytes (SI prefix), which is why your drive shows less capacity than advertised.
What is the difference between megabits and megabytes?
Megabits (Mb) are 1/8 the size of megabytes (MB). Internet speeds are usually quoted in Mb/s (megabits per second). A 100 Mb/s connection downloads at about 12.5 MB/s.
How big is a petabyte?
1 petabyte = 1,024 terabytes = about 1 quadrillion bytes. Major tech companies store exabytes (1,024 petabytes) of data. All words ever spoken by humans is estimated at around 5 exabytes.
What does GiB mean vs GB?
GiB (gibibyte) uses the binary definition (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes), while GB (gigabyte) in SI means exactly 1,000,000,000 bytes. Operating systems report sizes in GiB but label them GB, causing apparent discrepancies.