Data Size Converter
Convert between data size units instantly. Supports binary (KiB, MiB, GiB) and decimal (KB, MB, GB) standards. Convert bytes through petabytes, plus bits.
Binary is used by operating systems, Decimal by manufacturers
Result
💡 All conversions happen in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
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How to Use
- 1 Choose your unit standard - Select Binary (1024) for operating system measurements or Decimal (1000) for manufacturer specifications. This is important because they give different results!
- 2 Enter your value in the "From" field. You can type any number, including decimals (e.g., 1024, 2.5, 0.001).
- 3 Select your units from the dropdown menus. Choose the unit you're converting from (e.g., MB) and the unit you want to convert to (e.g., GB).
- 4 See instant results as you type. The conversion happens in real-time with up to 4 decimal places for precision.
- 5 Use the swap button (↔) to quickly reverse the conversion direction. This exchanges the "From" and "To" units and values.
- 6 Try quick conversion presets by clicking buttons like "MB → GB" or "GB → TB" for common conversions.
💡 Pro Tip: Binary (1024) is used by operating systems - a 1 TB drive shows as 931 GiB in Windows. Decimal (1000) is used by manufacturers - a 1 TB drive = 1,000 GB. The difference is about 7%, which explains why your drive appears smaller than advertised!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between binary and decimal data sizes?
Binary (1024) uses powers of 2 and is the IEC standard: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB, 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB. This is what operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux use to report file and drive sizes. Decimal (1000) uses powers of 10 and is the SI standard: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000 KB, 1 GB = 1,000 MB. This is what hard drive and SSD manufacturers use for marketing. The difference grows larger with bigger sizes - at 1 TB, the difference is about 93 GB (7%).
Why does my 1 TB hard drive show as 931 GB in Windows?
This is the classic binary vs decimal confusion! Hard drive manufacturers advertise capacity using decimal units: 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. But Windows displays capacity using binary units: 1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. When you divide the manufacturer's 1 trillion bytes by the binary definition, you get 931 GiB (which Windows displays as "GB"). Your drive isn't smaller - it's just measured differently! The actual usable space is also reduced by file system overhead and hidden partitions.
What's the difference between bits and bytes?
A bit (b) is the smallest unit of data - a single 0 or 1. A byte (B) is 8 bits. Notice the capitalization: lowercase "b" = bits, uppercase "B" = bytes. Internet speeds are typically measured in bits per second (Mbps, Gbps), while file sizes are measured in bytes (MB, GB). So a 100 Mbps internet connection can download at about 12.5 MB/s (divide by 8). This converter supports both - just look for the lowercase "b" for bits.
When should I use binary vs decimal units?
Use binary (KiB, MiB, GiB) when working with operating systems, RAM, file systems, or anything computer-internal. This matches what your OS reports. Use decimal (KB, MB, GB) when shopping for storage devices, comparing manufacturer specs, or discussing internet speeds. For technical documentation and programming, the IEC recommends using binary units with the "i" notation (KiB, MiB) to avoid confusion, but many people still use KB/MB/GB to mean binary units. Context matters!