A data storage converter converts between units of digital storage — bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes — accurately. This sounds simple, but storage units actually have two competing standards (decimal and binary) that don't quite agree with each other, which is the source of a lot of confusion around file sizes and drive capacities. This page covers how this converter works, the decimal vs. binary distinction, and several worked examples converting common storage values. Browse all converters if you need a different tool.
How This Data Storage Converter Works
The Two Different Standards
Digital storage can be measured using two different unit systems:
- SI (decimal) units — kB, MB, GB, TB — based on powers of 1,000
- IEC (binary) units — KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB — based on powers of 1,024
These aren't interchangeable, even though "MB" and "MiB" are sometimes used loosely to mean the same thing in casual conversation. This converter keeps the two systems clearly separated rather than mixing them, since blending kB (1,000 bytes) with IEC binary prefixes like KiB (1,024 bytes) produces a small but real error that compounds at larger scales.
Decimal (SI) vs. Binary (IEC) Units — Why It Matters
Bytes, Bits, and the Base-2 vs. Base-10 Confusion
Computers fundamentally operate in binary (base 2), which is why memory and file systems naturally align with powers of 1,024 (2¹⁰) rather than clean powers of 1,000. Storage manufacturers, however, typically market drive capacity using decimal (SI) units, since 1,000-based numbers look larger and align with how humans naturally count. This mismatch is exactly why a "1 TB" hard drive shows less than 1 TB of usable space when a computer's operating system measures it in binary (TiB) — the drive isn't lying about its capacity, it's just being measured with a different yardstick than the OS displays it with.
Byte Converter: The Base Unit
A byte is the fundamental unit both systems build from — 8 bits make up 1 byte, and every larger unit (kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte) is a multiple of the byte, just using a different base (1,000 or 1,024) depending on which standard is being used.
Worked Examples: MB to GB and Beyond
Example: Converting 1,500 MB to GB
Using SI (decimal): 1,500 MB ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 GB
Using IEC (binary): 1,500 MiB ÷ 1,024 = ≈1.46 GiB
Example: Converting 2 TB to GB
Using SI (decimal): 2 TB × 1,000 = 2,000 GB
Using IEC (binary): 2 TiB × 1,024 = 2,048 GiB
Notice the growing gap between the two systems as the numbers get larger — this is exactly why the decimal/binary distinction matters more at bigger storage scales, like comparing a drive's advertised capacity to what the operating system actually reports.
Storage Unit Conversion Chart
SI (Decimal) Reference Table
| Unit | Bytes |
|---|---|
| 1 kilobyte (kB) | 1,000 bytes |
| 1 megabyte (MB) | 1,000,000 bytes |
| 1 gigabyte (GB) | 1,000,000,000 bytes |
| 1 terabyte (TB) | 1,000,000,000,000 bytes |
IEC (Binary) Reference Table
| Unit | Bytes |
|---|---|
| 1 kibibyte (KiB) | 1,024 bytes |
| 1 mebibyte (MiB) | 1,048,576 bytes |
| 1 gibibyte (GiB) | 1,073,741,824 bytes |
| 1 tebibyte (TiB) | 1,099,511,627,776 bytes |
Why Your Drive Shows Less Space Than Advertised
A drive advertised as "1 TB" contains exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using the SI decimal standard manufacturers use for marketing. Most operating systems, however, report storage using binary (IEC) units while still labeling them "GB" or "TB" instead of the more accurate "GiB" or "TiB." Converting 1,000,000,000,000 bytes into binary terabytes (TiB) gives approximately 0.909 TiB — which is exactly why a "1 TB" drive shows up as roughly 931 GB in an operating system's file explorer. Nothing is missing or defective; it's the same amount of physical storage, just measured and labeled using two different unit systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert MB to GB?
Using decimal SI units, divide the MB value by 1,000. For example, 1,500 MB equals 1.5 GB.
Why does my 1 TB drive show less than 1 TB of space?
Drive manufacturers use decimal SI units for marketing, while operating systems typically report storage using binary IEC units, even while labeling them the same way. The actual physical storage is unchanged.
What's the difference between a kilobyte and a kibibyte?
A kilobyte is 1,000 bytes under the decimal standard. A kibibyte is 1,024 bytes under the binary standard, a difference that grows larger at bigger storage scales.
How many bytes are in a gigabyte?
Using decimal SI units, 1 gigabyte equals 1,000,000,000 bytes. Using binary IEC units, 1 gibibyte equals 1,073,741,824 bytes.
Does this converter mix decimal and binary units together?
No. SI units and IEC units are kept clearly separated to avoid the small conversion errors that come from blending the two standards.
How do I convert bytes to kilobytes?
Divide the byte value by 1,000 for kilobytes under the decimal standard, or by 1,024 for kibibytes under the binary standard.
What is 2 TB in GB?
Using decimal units, 2 TB equals 2,000 GB. Using binary units, 2 TiB equals 2,048 GiB.
Is this data storage converter free to use?
Yes. It is free, requires no sign-up, and converts storage units instantly.