Data Size Converter

Convert between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and more. Support for both binary and decimal systems.

Binary (1024)

Decimal (1000)

Binary vs Decimal: Binary uses base-2 (1024) while decimal uses base-10 (1000). Most operating systems use binary, but storage manufacturers often use decimal.

About Data Size Conversion

What is Data Size Conversion?

Data size conversion is the process of converting digital storage measurements between different units such as bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. This is essential for understanding file sizes, storage capacity, and data transfer requirements.

Digital data is measured in bytes, with larger units representing multiples of bytes. However, there are two different systems: binary (base-2) used by most operating systems, and decimal (base-10) used by storage manufacturers.

Why Use Our Data Converter?

Dual Systems: Support for both binary (1024) and decimal (1000) conversions
Multiple Units: Convert between B, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB, and EB
High Precision: Accurate calculations with up to 10 decimal places
Quick Conversions: Common conversion presets for faster calculations

Binary vs Decimal Systems

Binary System (Base-2)

Used by operating systems and most software applications. Based on powers of 2 (1024).

1 KB = 1,024 bytes
1 MB = 1,024 KB
1 GB = 1,024 MB
1 TB = 1,024 GB

Decimal System (Base-10)

Used by storage manufacturers and follows SI (International System of Units) standards. Based on powers of 10 (1000).

1 kB = 1,000 bytes
1 MB = 1,000 kB
1 GB = 1,000 MB
1 TB = 1,000 GB

Data Storage Units Explained

Byte (B)

Basic unit of computer storage, typically 8 bits

Kilobyte (KB)

Used for small files like text documents

Megabyte (MB)

Common for images, songs, and small videos

Gigabyte (GB)

Standard for movies, software, and RAM

Terabyte (TB)

Large storage drives and data centers

Petabyte (PB)

Enterprise storage and cloud services

Common Use Cases

File Management: Understanding file sizes and organizing storage space efficiently
Storage Planning: Calculating storage requirements for servers, cloud services, and backups
Data Transfer: Estimating download/upload times based on file sizes and connection speeds
System Administration: Monitoring disk usage and planning capacity upgrades
Development: Understanding memory usage and optimizing application performance
Digital Media: Comparing quality vs file size for images, videos, and audio files

Why Storage Capacity Appears Different

You may notice that a 1TB hard drive shows less than 1TB of available space in your operating system. This happens because manufacturers use the decimal system (1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes) while operating systems use the binary system (1TB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes).

A 1TB drive (decimal) actually provides about 931GB (binary) of usable space, which can seem confusing but is perfectly normal. Both systems are correct within their respective contexts.