Need to convert file sizes between different units? Our file size converter helps you accurately convert between bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), and their binary equivalents (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB). Whether you are calculating hard drive capacity, estimating download times, or planning cloud storage usage, this tool provides instant conversions using both decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) standards. Understanding the difference between these standards is crucial for IT professionals, developers, and anyone working with digital storage.
Understanding Decimal vs Binary Units
Storage capacity uses two measurement standards: binary units use 1024 as the base (1 KiB = 1024 Bytes), which is the standard used internally by computers; decimal units use 1000 as the base (1 KB = 1000 Bytes), commonly used by hard drive manufacturers. This is why a 1TB hard drive shows approximately 931 GiB in your operating system. Our converter provides both results to eliminate confusion and help you understand the real capacity of your storage devices.
Common Conversion Scenarios
- Calculate cloud storage costs and quota usage accurately
- Estimate memory requirements for programs and containers
- Calculate network transfer speeds and file download times
- Plan database and log file storage capacity
- Compare advertised vs actual hard drive capacity
Quick Reference Chart
1 KB = 1,000 Bytes | 1 KiB = 1,024 Bytes; 1 MB = 1,000 KB | 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB; 1 GB = 1,000 MB | 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB; 1 TB = 1,000 GB | 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB; 1 PB = 1,000 TB | 1 PiB = 1,024 TiB
Why File Size Conversion Matters
Accurate file size conversion is essential in many professional contexts. System administrators need to plan storage capacity, developers must optimize application memory usage, and network engineers calculate bandwidth requirements. Misunderstanding the difference between decimal and binary units can lead to capacity planning errors, unexpected storage shortages, and incorrect cost estimates for cloud services.
FAQ
Q: Why does my 500GB hard drive only show 465GB on my computer?
A: Hard drive manufacturers use decimal calculation (500 GB = 500,000,000,000 Bytes), while operating systems display using binary units (approximately 465 GiB). This is due to different measurement standards, not a defective drive. The actual storage capacity is the same.
Q: When should I use binary units (KiB, MiB)?
A: Use binary units when dealing with RAM capacity, actual file system usage, and program memory allocation. Use decimal units when discussing network bandwidth and manufacturer-stated hard drive capacity. Most programming contexts and operating systems use binary internally.
Q: How long does it take to download a 1 GB file at 1 Mbps?
A: 1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits/second = 125,000 Bytes/second. Downloading 1 GB (1,000,000,000 Bytes) takes approximately 8,000 seconds, or about 2 hours and 13 minutes. Note that network speed is measured in bits, while file size is measured in bytes, and 1 Byte = 8 bits.
Q: What is the difference between MB and MiB?
A: MB (Megabyte) uses the decimal standard where 1 MB = 1,000,000 Bytes. MiB (Mebibyte) uses the binary standard where 1 MiB = 1,048,576 Bytes. The difference is about 4.9%, which becomes more significant with larger units.