Data Storage Converter
Convert between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes.
What Is the Data Storage Converter?
The Data Storage Converter converts between all digital storage units: bits, bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), petabytes (PB), and their binary (IEC) counterparts (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB). Handles both SI (1000-based) and binary (1024-based) definitions.
Formula
How to Use
Enter a data size value in any unit. Choose between binary (1 KB = 1024 bytes, used by operating systems) or decimal (1 KB = 1000 bytes, used by storage manufacturers). The converter instantly shows all equivalent values from bits to petabytes.
Example Calculation
500 GB hard drive (manufacturer, decimal): = 500×10⁹ bytes = 500,000,000,000 bytes. In binary (OS): = 500,000,000,000/1024³ = 465.7 GiB. This is why a '500 GB' drive shows as '465 GB' in Windows.
Understanding Data Storage Converter
Data storage units exist in two parallel systems: decimal (SI) and binary (IEC). The confusion between them is the source of the notorious 'missing gigabytes' on hard drives — a 1 TB drive contains 10¹² bytes as advertised, but your operating system reports it in binary gigabytes (2³⁰ bytes each), making it appear as 931 GB. Neither figure is wrong — they use different definitions.
The IEC in 1998 standardized binary prefixes: kibi- (Ki, 2¹⁰), mebi- (Mi, 2²⁰), gibi- (Gi, 2³⁰), tebi- (Ti, 2⁴⁰), etc. These are unambiguous: 1 KiB = exactly 1024 bytes, always. The non-IEC prefixes (K, M, G, T) remain ambiguous in practice, with context determining whether 1000 or 1024 is meant.
Understanding data sizes is essential for cloud storage planning, network bandwidth estimation, database design, and purchasing storage. A high-resolution photo is about 5 MB; a 1-hour HD video stream uses about 3 GB; a full genome sequence is about 3 GB of raw data. Data center storage is now measured in exabytes (10¹⁸ bytes), and global internet traffic is measured in zettabytes (10²¹ bytes) annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my 1TB hard drive show as 931 GB in Windows?
Hard drive makers use decimal (1 TB = 10¹² bytes). Windows displays binary gigabytes (1 GiB = 2³⁰ bytes ≈ 1.074×10⁹ bytes). The difference: 10¹² ÷ 2³⁰ ≈ 931. There is no missing space — it's a unit definition difference.
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
The IEC standard introduced kibibyte (KiB = 1024 bytes) and kilobyte (KB = 1000 bytes) to eliminate ambiguity. In practice, KB is often used for 1024 bytes in computer science contexts, while storage manufacturers use KB = 1000 bytes.
How many bytes is 1 GB?
Binary: 1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes (2³⁰). Decimal: 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes (10⁹). The binary definition is used by operating systems; the decimal by storage manufacturers.
How big is a typical file?
Text file: 1-100 KB. Photo (JPEG): 1-10 MB. HD video per minute: 100-500 MB. Full HD movie: 4-15 GB. 4K movie: 50-100 GB.
Is this converter free?
Yes, completely free with no account required.