Data Storage Converter
Convert between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes.
Cómo funciona
This converter handles digital storage units from bits through terabytes, using the binary (1024-based) convention common throughout computing, where each unit is 1,024 times the size of the one below it rather than a round 1,000.
A bit is the smallest unit (a single 0 or 1), and 8 bits make a byte, the basic unit most storage and file sizes are measured in. From there: 1 kilobyte (KB) = 1,024 bytes, 1 megabyte (MB) = 1,024 KB, 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 MB, and 1 terabyte (TB) = 1,024 GB.
This binary convention exists because computers fundamentally work in powers of 2, and 1,024 (2¹⁰) is the power of 2 closest to 1,000 — making it a natural, if slightly confusing, choice for a "kilo" prefix that in every other context (kilometers, kilograms) means exactly 1,000.
This is exactly why storage capacity can seem to "disappear": a drive advertised as 1 TB is sized using the decimal definition (1,000,000,000,000 bytes, as manufacturers commonly use for marketing), but your operating system often reports capacity using the binary definition (1,024⁴ bytes for a "true" TB) — the same physical number of bytes, described in a slightly smaller-looking unit, making the drive appear to have less space than advertised even though nothing is actually missing.
For everyday purposes — checking whether a video file will fit on a USB drive, understanding how large a downloaded file is, or estimating cloud storage usage — this distinction rarely matters much in practice, but it's worth knowing the reason for the discrepancy the next time a drive's reported capacity doesn't match its label.
Is 1 GB exactly 1000 MB?
This tool uses the binary convention (1 GB = 1024 MB), common in computing.
Why do computers use 1,024 instead of 1,000 for kilobytes?
Computers work in binary (powers of 2), and 1,024 (2¹⁰) is the power of 2 closest to 1,000 — making it the natural computing equivalent of "kilo", even though it doesn't exactly match the standard metric meaning of 1,000.
Why does my hard drive show less space than what's printed on the box?
Manufacturers typically advertise storage using the decimal definition (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes), while your operating system reports it using the binary definition (1,024⁴ bytes) — the same physical bytes, just described using a slightly different-sized unit.
How many bits are in a byte?
8 bits make 1 byte, the basic unit most file sizes and storage capacities are measured in.
What's the difference between a bit and a byte, symbol-wise?
Bits are typically abbreviated with a lowercase 'b' (Mb for megabit), while bytes use an uppercase 'B' (MB for megabyte) — an important distinction, especially for internet speeds, which are usually quoted in bits per second, not bytes.
How large is a typical photo or video file in these units?
A typical smartphone photo is often a few MB, while a video file can easily run into hundreds of MB or several GB, depending on resolution and length.
Does cloud storage use the same binary convention?
It varies by provider — some display storage using the binary convention this calculator uses, others use decimal (1,000-based) units, which can cause the same kind of apparent discrepancy as with physical hard drives.
How many gigabytes are in a terabyte?
1,024 GB make 1 TB under the binary convention this calculator uses.
Can I convert between more than two units at once?
Yes — the "Quick reference" table below the main converter shows your entered value converted into every other supported data storage unit simultaneously.
Why are internet speeds quoted in Mbps but downloads shown in MB?
Internet speed is conventionally measured in bits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are measured in bytes (MB) — since 8 bits make a byte, an 8 Mbps connection downloads at roughly 1 MB per second, not 8 MB per second, a common source of confusion.
How many kilobytes are in a megabyte?
1,024 KB make 1 MB under the binary convention this calculator uses.