Converters

Data Storage Converter

Convert any digital storage size between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes.

Enter a value above to see the conversion.

Advertisement

How Data Storage Conversion Works

This converter uses binary (base-2) prefixes, which is the standard used by operating systems. Each unit is a power of 1,024 bytes.

result = value × (A_to_bytes / B_to_bytes)

Example: 2 GB → MB = 2 × (1024³ / 1024²) = 2,048 MB

Binary Scale

  • 1 byte = 8 bits
  • 1 KB = 1,024 B
  • 1 MB = 1,024 KB
  • 1 GB = 1,024 MB
  • 1 TB = 1,024 GB
  • 1 PB = 1,024 TB

Binary vs Decimal Storage Units

Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) measure storage in binary prefixes where 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. This is the standard in computing because binary arithmetic underlies how memory addressing works.

Storage manufacturers typically advertise in decimal prefixes where 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, making drives appear larger. The gap compounds at higher units — a drive marketed as 1 TB (1,000 GB decimal) shows as approximately 931 GB in your operating system (931 × 1,073,741,824 bytes ≈ 1 trillion bytes). This converter uses binary units to match what your OS reports.

Frequently asked questions

How many bytes are in a kilobyte?
In binary (base-2), 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. This is the standard used by operating systems and most technical contexts. Some storage manufacturers use 1 KB = 1,000 bytes (decimal/SI), which is why reported drive sizes often appear smaller than advertised.
How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?
1 GB = 1,024 MB in binary notation, which is used by operating systems. In decimal notation, 1 GB = 1,000 MB.
How many bits are in a byte?
There are exactly 8 bits in 1 byte. Bits are the smallest unit of digital data, while bytes are the most common base unit for measuring file sizes and storage capacity.
What is a petabyte?
A petabyte (PB) equals 1,024 terabytes or approximately 1 quadrillion bytes. Petabytes are used to describe very large data repositories such as cloud storage platforms and data centres.
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Drive manufacturers advertise capacity in decimal gigabytes (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), but operating systems report in binary gigabytes (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 1 TB drive advertised as 1,000 GB shows as roughly 931 GB in Windows or macOS.

Related calculators