Bytes/Bits Converter
From: megabytes (MB)
To: gigabytes (GB)
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Part of Unit converters
Bytes converter: KB, MB, GB, TB — decimal vs binary explained
Storage and bandwidth numbers are labeled inconsistently. A hard drive marketed as “1 TB” often uses decimal terabytes (1,000,000,000,000 bytes), while Linux `df` may show tebibytes (1024-based). A “100 Mbps” internet plan is bits per second, not bytes.
This converter lets you translate between bit/byte prefixes and pick decimal (SI) or binary (IEC) bases so your math matches the datasheet—not the marketing footnote you missed.
How to use this converter
- Select bits or bytes and the prefix on your spec (MB, MiB, GB, etc.).
- Enter the value from a file properties dialog or invoice.
- Choose the target unit your team uses internally.
- Compare with billing, transfer estimates, or OS reports.
Before and after examples
Why “1 TB” and “931 GB” can both be correct.
| Original | Converted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB (decimal) | 0.93 GiB | Marketing vs binary OS view |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s | Divide by 8 for bytes |
| 1 MiB | 1,048,576 B | Binary megabyte |
| 1 MB (decimal) | 1,000,000 B | SI megabyte |
Decimal (1000) vs binary (1024) prefixes
SI decimal prefixes multiply by 1000: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. IEC binary prefixes use 1024: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes. Windows has historically mixed “GB” labels with binary sizing; macOS moved toward decimal GB for disks in some views.
That is why a “1 TB” drive shows ~931 GiB in a binary display—it is not missing space; the label and the tool use different bases.
Bits per second vs bytes per second
Internet plans quote megabits per second (Mbps). File sizes use bytes. Divide Mbps by 8 for megabytes per second theoretical throughput—then subtract real-world overhead. A 100 Mbps line delivers at most ~12.5 MB/s under ideal conditions.
Networking textbooks and router UI may mix units. Convert explicitly before estimating download time: file size in MB ÷ throughput in MB/s.
Cloud bills, APIs, and support tickets
S3 and many cloud invoices use decimal GB. Database page sizes and RAM are often binary. When a PM asks “how big is the payload?”, convert JSON byte length to KiB or MB with the same base your monitoring dashboard uses.
Support: explaining binary vs decimal once saves repeated “missing gigabytes” tickets after every storage purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my 1 TB drive show ~931 GB?
Decimal TB (1×10¹² bytes) vs binary TiB (1024⁴ bytes). Both are valid in their own labeling context.
Should I use KB or KiB?
Match your audience: SI decimal for storage marketing and many cloud bills; IEC binary for memory and many developer tools.
Are bits and bytes interchangeable?
No. Eight bits equal one byte. Network speeds in bits need ÷8 before comparing to file sizes in bytes.