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Byte Calculator — Bits, Bytes, KB, MB, GB & KiB

Convert bits, bytes, kB/KiB, MB/MiB, and GB/GiB. Compare SI (1000) prefixes with IEC (1024) so disk labels and OS sizes finally match.

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Version 1.0.0 · Last reviewed

How it worksShow guide

Introduction

Convert bits, bytes, and storage sizes using SI (1000) and IEC (1024) prefixes. Use this when a disk, download, or RAM spec mixes kB with KiB, or when network speed in bits needs to match a file size in bytes.

Formula

Convert by normalizing to bits (1 byte = 8 bits), then scaling to the target unit. SI prefixes multiply by 1000; IEC prefixes multiply by 1024.

  • n Numeric value
  • b Bits per unit for the selected unit

Step-by-step

  1. Enter the value.
  2. Choose the unit you are converting from — bits, bytes, or a prefixed size.
  3. Choose the unit you want.
  4. Read the converted result and the full equivalent table.

Worked example

1 GB (SI) is 1,000,000,000 bytes. 1 GiB (IEC) is 1,073,741,824 bytes — the figure operating systems often show for a “1 GB” file.

Use cases

  • See how many bytes are in a gigabyte vs a gibibyte
  • Convert file sizes between kB, KiB, MB, and GiB
  • Turn megabits per second into megabytes for download estimates
  • Read hardware specs that mix SI and IEC prefixes

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between MB and MiB?

MB is the SI megabyte: 1,000,000 bytes (1000²). MiB is the IEC mebibyte: 1,048,576 bytes (1024²). Drives are often marketed in GB (SI) while operating systems report GiB (IEC), which is why a “500 GB” disk may show about 465 GiB.

How many bits are in a byte?

Exactly 8. Network rates are often quoted in bits (Mbit/s), while file sizes use bytes. Divide bits by 8 to get bytes — so 100 Mbit/s is 12.5 MB/s.

Should I use 1000 or 1024?

Use SI units (kB, MB, GB) when a spec says decimal prefixes — storage marketing and many networking standards. Use IEC units (KiB, MiB, GiB) for RAM and most OS-reported file sizes. This calculator keeps both so you can compare them directly.

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Version 1.0.0 · Last updated: