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Byte converter

Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, and PB instantly. Toggle binary (1024) vs decimal (1000) units and see all conversions at once.

UnitBinary (1024)Decimal (1000)
Bytes
1,073,741,8241,073,741,824
KiBKB
1,048,5761,073,741.82
MiBMB
1,0241,073.74
GiBGB
11.07
TiBTB
0.0009765630.00107374
PiBPB
9.5367e-70.00000107374
context
≈745.65 floppy disks (1.44 MB)
≈1.53 CDs (700 MB)
≈0.228456 DVDs (4.7 GB)
≈0.0429497 Blu-ray discs (25 GB)
≈0.0167772 USB drives (64 GB)

What is Byte Converter?

A byte converter is a utility that translates digital storage sizes between different units of measurement. Computers store data in bytes, but humans work with larger units like kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), and petabytes (PB). The confusion arises because there are two competing standards: the binary standard (base 1024) used by operating systems and RAM manufacturers, where 1 KiB equals 1024 bytes, and the decimal standard (base 1000) used by storage manufacturers and network providers, where 1 KB equals 1000 bytes. This is why a 1 TB hard drive shows up as 931 GiB in your operating system. This tool converts your input to every unit simultaneously and shows both binary and decimal values side by side, so you can see exactly how much storage you are dealing with in any context. It also provides real-world comparisons like how many floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs your data would fill. All conversions happen instantly in your browser with zero server calls.

How to Use Byte Converter

  1. 1

    Enter a value and select a unit

    Type a number into the input field and pick your starting unit from the dropdown: Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, or PB. The tool converts your value in real time as you type.

  2. 2

    Choose binary or decimal mode

    Toggle between Binary (1024-based, KiB/MiB/GiB) and Decimal (1000-based, KB/MB/GB) to set how your input value is interpreted. Both conversion columns always display regardless of which mode you select.

  3. 3

    Read results and copy values

    All six unit rows update instantly with both binary and decimal equivalents. Your input unit is highlighted. Click the copy button on any row to copy that value to your clipboard. Check the real-world context section for physical media comparisons.

Features

  • Converts to all six units (Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB) simultaneously
  • Shows both binary (1024-based) and decimal (1000-based) values side by side
  • Toggle input interpretation between binary and decimal standards
  • One-click copy button on every conversion row
  • Real-world size comparisons with floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs
  • Input unit row highlighted for quick reference
  • Real-time conversion updates as you type with zero delay
  • Fully client-side processing with no data sent to any server

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between binary and decimal byte units?+
Binary units use a factor of 1024 between each level (1 KiB = 1024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1024 KiB). Decimal units use a factor of 1000 (1 KB = 1000 bytes, 1 MB = 1000 KB). Binary units are what your operating system reports. Decimal units are what hard drive and SSD manufacturers use on packaging. This discrepancy is why a drive advertised as 1 TB shows roughly 931 GiB in your OS.
What are IEC units like KiB, MiB, and GiB?+
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced distinct names for binary units to eliminate ambiguity. KiB (kibibyte) means exactly 1024 bytes, MiB (mebibyte) means 1024 KiB, GiB (gibibyte) means 1024 MiB, TiB (tebibyte) means 1024 GiB, and PiB (pebibyte) means 1024 TiB. These names distinguish binary values from decimal KB, MB, GB, TB, and PB values that use factors of 1000.
Why does my 1 TB hard drive only show 931 GB in Windows?+
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal (1000-based) units, so 1 TB means exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Windows reports sizes in binary (1024-based) units but labels them GB instead of GiB. When you divide 1,000,000,000,000 bytes by 1024 three times, you get approximately 931 GiB. The data is all there — it is just a difference in how the units are defined.
Which standard does RAM use?+
RAM always uses binary units. When you buy 16 GB of RAM, you get exactly 16 GiB (17,179,869,184 bytes). This is because memory chips are built in powers of 2. Storage devices like hard drives and SSDs use decimal units because they are not constrained by powers of 2 in manufacturing.
How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?+
In decimal (SI) units, 1 GB equals exactly 1000 MB. In binary (IEC) units, 1 GiB equals exactly 1024 MiB. The difference between the two grows larger at bigger scales. At the petabyte level, the difference between PB and PiB is about 12.6 percent.
Is this tool accurate for very large or very small values?+
Yes. The tool handles values from single bytes up to petabytes accurately. For extremely small results, it switches to scientific notation (e.g., 1.0000e-4) to preserve precision. For large values, it uses locale-formatted numbers with commas and up to two decimal places.