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Data Storage Converter

Convert bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB — binary or decimal

Privacy: your files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.

How to use

  1. 1.Type the amount you want to convert into the storage value field.
  2. 2.Pick the prefix standard — Decimal (1000) for drive makers, or Binary (1024) for what your operating system reports — then choose the source and target units.
  3. 3.Read the converted result instantly, or tick 'Show all units at once' to see bits through petabytes together.

About Data Storage Converter

A data storage converter turns any digital size between bytes (B), kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), petabytes (PB), and bits — instantly and entirely in your browser, with nothing uploaded. The one setting that matters is the prefix standard, because the same label can mean two different numbers.

There are two competing conventions. The decimal (SI) standard uses powers of 1000: 1 KB = 1000 B, 1 MB = 1,000,000 B, and 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 B. Drive and USB manufacturers, along with network speeds, use this decimal definition. The binary (IEC) standard uses powers of 1024: 1 KiB = 1024 B, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 B, and 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 B. Operating systems such as Windows report file sizes and disk capacity this binary way, which is why the IEC created the unambiguous kibibyte (KiB), mebibyte (MiB), gibibyte (GiB), tebibyte (TiB), and pebibyte (PiB) names.

This mismatch explains the classic complaint: buy a '1 TB' drive and your system shows only about 931 GB. The maker counts 1 TB as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (decimal). Your operating system divides those same bytes by 1024 four times, giving roughly 0.909 TiB — but labels it 'TB', so the number looks smaller even though not a single byte is missing. Toggle this converter between Decimal (1000) and Binary (1024) to see both answers side by side.

Bits versus bytes is the other frequent trap. One byte is exactly 8 bits, in both standards. Storage is measured in bytes (uppercase B), while data-transfer and internet speeds are usually quoted in bits (lowercase b) — so a 100 Mb/s connection delivers only about 12.5 MB/s, and confusing the two is a common way to overestimate how fast a download will actually finish. This tool includes bit so you can convert cleanly between the two whenever a spec sheet mixes them.

The scale grows fast: 1 GB is a thousand MB, 1 TB is a thousand GB, and 1 PB (petabyte) is a thousand TB — roughly a million gigabytes, the scale of large data-center storage. Enter any number, pick your source and target units, choose the standard, and read the result immediately; enable 'Show all units at once' to see the full ladder from bits to petabytes.

The factors here follow NIST's Prefixes for Binary Multiples and the IEC 80000-13:2008 standard, so decimal stays at 1000 and binary stays at 1024 with no rounding of the definitions. Everything runs client-side, so your values never leave your device.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my 1TB drive show less space?
Drive makers count 1 TB as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (decimal, base 1000). Your operating system divides those bytes by 1024 four times (binary) and gets about 0.909, yet still labels it 'TB', so it shows roughly 931 GB. No space is missing — the two standards just count differently.
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) is the decimal SI unit and equals 1000 bytes. KiB (kibibyte) is the binary IEC unit and equals 1024 bytes. IEC created KiB, MiB, GiB and so on specifically to remove the old ambiguity around whether 'kilobyte' meant 1000 or 1024.
Is a kilobyte 1024 or 1000 bytes?
Both definitions exist. Under the decimal (SI) standard a kilobyte is 1000 bytes, which drive manufacturers use. Under the binary (IEC) standard the equivalent unit is the kibibyte (KiB) at 1024 bytes, which operating systems use. Switch the toggle to see either result.
How many bits are in a byte?
Exactly 8 bits make 1 byte, in both the decimal and binary standards. Storage is measured in bytes (uppercase B) while transfer speeds are quoted in bits (lowercase b), so a 100 Mb/s link moves about 12.5 MB/s.
How big is a petabyte (PB)?
1 petabyte equals 1000 terabytes, or about 1,000,000 gigabytes, under the decimal standard (10^15 bytes). Under the binary standard the equivalent pebibyte (PiB) is 1024^5 bytes, about 1.126 x 10^15. Petabytes are the scale of large data centers and cloud storage.

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