Data Storage Converter
Convert a digital storage value between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes. This free online developer calculator runs entirely in your browser — no signup, no data sent anywhere.
Inputs
Results
How It Works (Formula & Method)
Every value is normalized to bytes, then divided into the target unit. This tool uses binary multiples: 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 KB = 1024 bytes, 1 MB = 1024 KB, and so on up to 1 PB = 1024 TB. So 1 GB equals 1024 MB.
Worked Example
Below is a worked example using the calculator's default values. The same numbers are pre-filled in the form above so you can press Calculate and see the result without typing anything.
Inputs used:
- Value: 1
- From Unit: GB
- To Unit: MB
With these inputs, the calculator computes the metrics shown in the Results panel. Change any value and press Calculate again to see how the result responds — the live widget and the chart both update instantly.
About the Data Storage Converter
Digital storage is measured in a ladder of units, each step a multiple of the one below. Confusion is common because the same prefixes are used for both binary (1024-based) and decimal (1000-based) systems. This converter uses the binary convention — the one operating systems use to report file sizes.
Tips & Considerations
- Storage marketed by drive manufacturers uses decimal units (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), which is why a "1 TB" drive shows as roughly 931 GiB in your OS.
- Network speeds are quoted in bits per second; file sizes are in bytes. Divide a megabit figure by 8 to compare with megabytes.
- The strictly correct binary units are KiB, MiB, GiB — but most operating systems still label binary values as KB, MB, GB.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bytes are in a kilobyte?
In the binary convention used by operating systems, 1 kilobyte is 1024 bytes. In the decimal convention used on storage packaging, it is 1000 bytes.
Why is a bit different from a byte?
A bit is a single binary digit, 0 or 1. A byte is a group of 8 bits and is the smallest unit most software addresses directly.
Why does my new drive show less space than advertised?
Manufacturers count in decimal (1 TB = 10¹² bytes) while your OS counts in binary. The same physical capacity simply shows a smaller binary number.
What does the Data Storage Converter compute?
The Data Storage Converter takes 3 input values and returns 1 result. Convert digital storage units — bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes.