Free data unit converter: convert bytes to kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and petabytes using BOTH the decimal (SI, powers of 1000) and binary (IEC, powers of 1024) standards side by side. Handles the MB vs MiB / GB vs GiB confusion so you know exactly whether 1 MB is 1000 bytes or 1024. Runs in your browser.
—
Enter a value to convert.
How data unit converter works
This converter handles digital storage units in two standards at once. The decimal (SI) standard uses powers of 1000: 1 KB = 1000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes, and so on through TB and PB. The binary (IEC) standard uses powers of 1024: 1 KiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes, through TiB and PiB. The tool converts your input to bytes first, then divides into every other unit so you see both standards side by side.
The two standards exist because memory chips are addressed in binary (powers of two) while storage marketing uses round decimal numbers. Operating systems historically reported binary sizes with the KB/MB/GB labels (so '1 KB' meant 1024 bytes), which is why a '500 GB' hard drive shows as about 465 'GB' in Windows. The IEC standard (KiB, MiB, GiB) was created to remove that ambiguity: KiB always means 1024 bytes, KB always means 1000 bytes.
Enter any value and pick its unit; the converter returns the equivalent amount in all ten other units, rounded to six decimal places. Tiny fractions use scientific notation so they never round to zero. This lets you answer questions like 'how many MiB in 500 MB' (500,000,000 / 1,048,576 = about 476.84 MiB) and see the exact decimal-vs-binary gap for any size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MB and MiB?
MB (megabyte) is the decimal/SI unit equal to 1,000,000 bytes (1000^2). MiB (mebibyte) is the binary/IEC unit equal to 1,048,576 bytes (1024^2). So 1 MiB is about 4.86% larger than 1 MB. This converter shows both so you never confuse the two.
Why does my 500 GB hard drive show as ~465 GB in my computer?
Drive makers advertise in decimal GB (500 * 1,000,000,000 bytes), but many operating systems report sizes in binary units while still labeling them 'GB'. 500,000,000,000 bytes / 1,073,741,824 (a GiB) is about 465. The drive is not smaller; the units differ. Using GiB labels would make it clear.
How do I convert MB to GB?
In the decimal standard, divide by 1000: 1000 MB = 1 GB. In the binary standard, convert MiB to GiB by dividing by 1024: 1024 MiB = 1 GiB. Enter your value, pick MB or MiB as the source, and read the GB or GiB result from the grid.
Which standard should I use?
Use decimal (KB, MB, GB) for networking speeds and storage marketing, and binary (KiB, MiB, GiB) for RAM and anything measured by the operating system. This tool shows both standards together so you can compare and pick the right unit without recalculating.
