Free Digital Storage Converter
Convert between bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB with both binary (1024) and decimal (1000) modes. The most comprehensive data storage converter.
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1 GB (Gigabytes) =
Formula
Binary: 1 KiB = 1024 bytes | Decimal: 1 KB = 1000 bytes | 1 byte = 8 bitsBinary vs. Decimal Storage Units
There are two standards for measuring digital storage, and the difference causes endless confusion:
- Decimal (SI) — 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. Used by hard drive manufacturers and in marketing materials.
- Binary (IEC) — 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes. Used by operating systems and in computing contexts.
This converter supports both modes. Toggle between them to see the difference — it gets significant at larger sizes (a "1 TB" drive is only 931 GiB).
Storage Size References
- Text message: ~1 KB
- MP3 song (4 min): ~4 MB
- Smartphone photo: ~3-5 MB
- HD movie (2 hrs): ~4-5 GB
- 4K movie (2 hrs): ~20-30 GB
- AAA video game: ~50-150 GB
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) = 1,000 bytes (decimal, used by drive manufacturers). KiB (kibibyte) = 1,024 bytes (binary, used by operating systems). This discrepancy is why a '1 TB' drive shows as ~931 GiB in your OS.
Should I use binary or decimal?
Use decimal (1000) for storage marketed sizes (hard drives, SSDs, USB drives). Use binary (1024) for what your OS reports, RAM sizes, and technical computing contexts.
How many GB are in a TB?
In decimal: 1 TB = 1,000 GB. In binary: 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB. Storage manufacturers use decimal, so a 1 TB drive has exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.
Why does my drive show less space than advertised?
Drives are sold using decimal (1 TB = 1,000 GB), but your OS typically shows binary units (1 TiB = 1,024 GiB). A 1 TB drive = 931.3 GiB. No space is missing — it is a unit difference.
How many bits are in a byte?
There are 8 bits in 1 byte. A bit is a single 0 or 1. A byte can represent 256 different values (2⁸). Internet speeds use bits (Mbps), while file sizes use bytes (MB).