Data Storage Converter
Convert bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and beyond. Decimal units (GB) count in 1,000s. Binary units (GiB) count in 1,024s.
Data Storage Converter
A "500 GB" drive shows about 465.7 GiB in an operating system that counts in binary.
Decimal vs Binary Storage
Why your drive shows less than advertised
| Device | Marketed (decimal) | OS shows (binary) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 GB hard drive | 500 GB | ≈ 465 GiB |
| 1 TB SSD | 1,000 GB | ≈ 931 GiB |
| Typical photo (JPEG) | 3–5 MB | ~2.9–4.8 MiB |
| 4K movie (stream) | ~15 GB/hr | ~14 GiB/hr |
| RAM (modern PC) | 16 GB | ~14.9 GiB |
💡 1 GB (decimal) = 1,000,000,000 bytes. 1 GiB (binary) = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Windows uses GiB but labels them "GB".
Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, and TB — essential for understanding file sizes, disk capacity, and download estimates.
Formula
Decimal: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes. Binary: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes. Most OS use binary but label it as KB.
Reference Values
- •1 MB = 1,024 KB (binary)
- •1 GB = 1,024 MB
- •1 TB = 1,024 GB
Related tools
FAQ
Common questions about data storage conversion
How we calculate this
We use the standard published formula for this calculation, and we show the working so you can check it.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll check it within a few days. See how we check our calculators.