Data Storage Converter
Convert digital storage between bits, bytes and every unit from kilobytes to exabytes, in both the decimal (base 1,000) and binary IEC (base 1,024) systems. The result updates as you type.
How to use this calculator
- Type the data size into the Enter data size field.
- Pick the unit you are converting From and the unit you want the answer To. Every option shows the name and the symbol, so Gigabyte (GB) and Gibibyte (GiB) are never mixed up.
- Choose how many decimal places the result shows. Max keeps every significant digit, so a tiny conversion such as 1 bit to GB still reads 0.000000000125 rather than rounding to zero.
- Read the headline conversion, with the exact byte equivalent beside it. The unit definitions in bytes appear under the inputs.
How is a data storage conversion calculated?
Every unit is converted through bytes, so there is one exact factor per unit:
- 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes (decimal, base 1,000).
- 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes (binary, base 1,024).
Example: convert 1 GB to GiB
- 1 GB × 1,000,000,000 = 1,000,000,000 bytes.
- 1,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = 0.931323 GiB.
Decimal vs binary storage units
Digital storage can be measured using decimal or binary units. Decimal units use steps of 1,000, while binary units use steps of 1,024. A lowercase b means bits and an uppercase B means bytes.
| Prefix | Decimal (base 1,000) | Binary (base 1,024) |
|---|---|---|
| Kilo | 1 kB = 1,000 bytes | 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes |
| Mega | 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes | 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes |
| Giga | 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes | 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes |
| Tera | 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes | 1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes |
Why can a hard drive appear smaller than advertised?
Storage manufacturers usually describe capacity using decimal units. For example, a 1 TB drive contains 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. When software reports that same capacity using binary-based calculations, it is approximately 931 GiB, so the displayed number can appear lower even though the drive capacity has not changed.
Precisely, 1 TB is about 909.495 GiB, while many operating systems label that binary-based value as roughly 931 “GB”. No storage is lost — only the unit used to describe it differs.
What is the difference between bits and bytes?
A bit is the smallest unit of digital information. A byte is made up of 8 bits. Use lowercase b for bits and uppercase B for bytes: for example, 100 Mbps is different from 100 MB/s.
Common data storage conversions
| Value | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 8 bits | 1 byte |
| 1 kB | 1,000 bytes |
| 1 KiB | 1,024 bytes |
| 1 MB | 1,000 kB |
| 1 MiB | 1,024 KiB |
| 1 GB | 1,000 MB |
| 1 GiB | 1,024 MiB |
| 1 TB | 1,000 GB |
| 1 TiB | 1,024 GiB |