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Free Data Storage Converter - KB, MB, GB, TB Conversion Online

822 uses
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Conversion Result (Binary)
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Byte (B)
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KB
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MB
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GB

Common Data Storage Conversion Table

UnitBinary (1024)Decimal (1000)Description
1 KB1,024 B1,000 BKilobyte
1 MB1,048,576 B1,000,000 BMegabyte
1 GB1,073,741,824 B1,000,000,000 BGigabyte
1 TB1,099,511,627,776 B1012 BTerabyte
1 PB250 B1015 BPetabyte
1 EB260 B1018 BExabyte
1 Byte8 Bit (bit)Base unit

Data Storage Tips

Why Drives Shrink
Drive manufacturers use decimal (1 GB = 1 billion bytes) while OS uses binary (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 1 TB drive shows about 931 GB.
Internet Speed
Internet speed is measured in Mbps (megabits). Download speed in MB/s (megabytes). 100 Mbps = about 12.5 MB/s download speed.
Storage Reference
Photo: 3-5 MB. 1 min 1080p video: 130 MB. Song: 4 MB. App: 50-200 MB.
Cloud Storage
Free cloud storage ranges from 5-15 GB. 1 TB can store about 200,000 photos or 500 hours of video.
RAM vs Storage
RAM is for running programs (volatile), storage (SSD/HDD) is for saving data (persistent). Both use GB but serve different purposes.
Video Storage
1 hour 720p: ~1 GB. 1080p: ~3 GB. 4K: ~20 GB. A 128 GB phone stores about 40 hours of 1080p video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q Why does my internet plan show 500 Mbps but my downloads max out at 60 MB/s?
A You're seeing bits versus bytes confusion. Internet speeds are advertised in megabits per second (Mbps), but file sizes show in megabytes (MB). One byte equals 8 bits, so 500 Mbps translates to roughly 62.5 MB/s before network overhead cuts it. Use our converter: type 500 in the megabit field, switch to binary mode, and read the megabyte output. That theoretical max explains the gap.
Q Is there a speed difference between binary and decimal mode when converting large files?
A No, the conversion is instant either way. Both modes process your input in under a second, even for petabytes. The only thing that changes is the math: decimal divides by 1000, binary divides by 1024. If you're converting a 10 TB drive to bytes, decimal mode gives you 10,000,000,000,000 bytes. Binary mode gives 10,995,116,277,760 bytes. Pick the mode first, then type your number.
Q What's the difference between a kibibyte and a kilobyte, and when should I care?
A A kilobyte (KB) uses decimal and equals 1000 bytes. A kibibyte (KiB) uses binary and equals 1024 bytes. Most operating systems and RAM manufacturers report in binary, but hard drive makers use decimal. If you're buying a 1 TB external drive for backups, decimal mode tells you the advertised size. Switch to binary to see what your computer will actually display — roughly 931 GB. Our converter labels both modes clearly, so you're never guessing.
Q Is it possible to convert petabytes to kilobytes without crashing the browser?
A Absolutely, and it handles it instantly. A petabyte equals 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes in binary mode. That's a huge number, but our converter manages the math client-side without bogging down your browser. Type 1 in the petabyte field, select kilobytes, and the result appears in milliseconds. No server calls, no lag. I've tested it with 10 PB just to be sure.
Q What happens if I mix decimal and binary units in the same calculation?
A You'll get numbers that don't match reality. Say you convert 1 TB to MB using decimal mode, then try to compare that result against a file size listed in binary MB. Decimal says 1,000,000 MB, binary gives 1,048,576 MB. That's a 48 MB gap right there. Our tool does one conversion at a time, so you won't accidentally blend modes, but watch your selections when copying results into spreadsheets. Pick one mode and stick with it for any given project, or label columns clearly.
Q Do I need to worry about storage unit myths when moving files?
A You should definitely watch out for the manufacturer versus OS discrepancy. Drive makers list 1 TB as exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, while Windows reports that same drive as roughly 931 GB. This isn't a scam or a broken drive, just a different way of counting bytes. Use our binary mode to see what your computer actually displays before transferring your data. Always check your operating system settings to see if it uses GiB or GB labels.
Q Why does my new 1TB SSD show up as only 931GB in Windows?
A That's not a defect, it's a unit mismatch. Manufacturers advertise 1TB as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using decimal math. Windows, however, reports storage in binary, where 1TB equals 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. So your drive's actual decimal capacity divided by the binary terabyte value lands at roughly 931GiB. Punch 1 into the TB field here, switch to binary mode, and you'll see the exact number your OS displays. This confusion trips up everyone, not just new builders.
Q Can I export or copy the converted values for use in a spreadsheet?
A Yes, just highlight the result and copy it like any other text on the page. There's no download button, but the output appears as plain numbers, so it pastes cleanly into Excel or Google Sheets without formatting issues. One tip: paste as values, not formulas, or your spreadsheet might try to reinterpret the number. For a 2 TB drive in decimal mode, you'll get 2,000,000,000,000 bytes, which Sheets sometimes auto-converts to scientific notation. Set the column format to plain text first if that bugs you.
Q Will my imported phone show incorrect storage due to regional unit labels?
A Phones bought from international stores often list storage in decimal gigabytes while your computer reads them in binary. A 512 GB phone might show up as roughly 476 GB on your screen. Plug 512 into our tool and flip to binary mode to see that exact number before you panic. It saves you from returning a perfectly fine device over a math quirk.
Q Can storage converters corrupt my data when checking file sizes?
A No tool on the web touches your actual files. This converter only calculates numbers based on the digits you type into the input boxes. Type 500 into the gigabyte field and get 500,000 megabytes in decimal mode. Your hard drive never connects to our site. Feel free to copy paste values without worrying about file corruption.

How to Use the Storage Converter

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