Digital Storage Converter - Convert Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB & More Units
Result:
1 GB = 1000 MB
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How Digital Storage Conversion Works
Input Size
Enter storage value
Select Units
Choose from and to units
Convert
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Formulas with Calculations
Decimal System (SI Units)
1 KB = 1,000 bytes
1 MB = 1,000 KB = 1,000,000 bytes
1 GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
1 TB = 1,000 GB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
1 PB = 1,000 TB = 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
Binary System (IEC Units)
1 KiB = 1,024 bytes
1 MiB = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
1 GiB = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
1 TiB = 1,024 GiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
1 PiB = 1,024 TiB = 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes
Digital Storage Conversion Table
| Bytes | KB | MB | GB | TB | KiB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,024 | 1.024 | 0.00 | 0.000 | 0.000000 | 1 |
| 10,000 | 10 | 0.01 | 0.000 | 0.000000 | 10 |
| 100,000 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.000 | 0.000000 | 98 |
| 1,000,000 | 1,000 | 1.00 | 0.001 | 0.000001 | 977 |
| 10,000,000 | 10,000 | 10.00 | 0.010 | 0.000010 | 9766 |
| 100,000,000 | 100,000 | 100.00 | 0.100 | 0.000100 | 97656 |
| 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1000.00 | 1.000 | 0.001000 | 976563 |
| 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 10000.00 | 10.000 | 0.010000 | 9765625 |
| 100,000,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 100000.00 | 100.000 | 0.100000 | 97656250 |
| 1,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 1000000.00 | 1000.000 | 1.000000 | 976562500 |
| 10,000,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 | 10000000.00 | 10000.000 | 10.000000 | 9765625000 |
| 100,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 | 100000000.00 | 100000.000 | 100.000000 | 97656250000 |
| 1,000,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000 | 1000000000.00 | 1000000.000 | 1000.000000 | 976562500000 |
| 10,000,000,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000,000 | 10000000000.00 | 10000000.000 | 10000.000000 | 9765625000000 |
| 100,000,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000,000 | 100000000000.00 | 100000000.000 | 100000.000000 | 97656250000000 |
Digital Storage Units Progression Chart
1 KB
1 MB
100 MB
1 GB
10 GB
1 TB
Practice Problems
Problem 1:
Convert 2.5 GB to MB
Solution: 2.5 Ć 1000 = 2,500 MB
Problem 2:
Convert 1024 MiB to GiB
Solution: 1024 Ć· 1024 = 1 GiB
Problem 3:
Convert 500,000 bytes to KB
Solution: 500,000 Ć· 1000 = 500 KB
Problem 4:
Convert 0.75 TB to GB
Solution: 0.75 Ć 1000 = 750 GB
Problem 5:
Convert 8 bits to bytes
Solution: 8 Ć· 8 = 1 byte (8 bits = 1 byte)
What is Digital Storage?
Digital storage is how we measure the space that files take up on computers, phones, and other devices. Think of it like measuring how much stuff fits in a box. When you save a photo, video, or document, it takes up a certain amount of digital space.
The smallest unit of digital storage is a bit. Eight bits make one byte. From there, we have bigger units like kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. Each unit is much bigger than the one before it.
Understanding digital storage helps you know how much space your files need. It also helps when buying new devices or cloud storage plans. You can figure out if you have enough room for your photos, music, and apps.
Common Digital Storage Examples
Small Files
Medium Files
Large Files
Storage Devices
How Digital Storage Works
Binary System (Base 2)
Computers use the binary system, which means everything is based on powers of 2. This is why we see numbers like 1024 instead of 1000.
Binary units (used by computers):
- ā¢ 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes
- ā¢ 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB
- ā¢ 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB
- ā¢ 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB
Decimal System (Base 10)
The decimal system uses powers of 10, which is easier for people to understand. This is what manufacturers often use for marketing.
Decimal units (marketing):
- ā¢ 1 KB = 1,000 bytes
- ā¢ 1 MB = 1,000 KB
- ā¢ 1 GB = 1,000 MB
- ā¢ 1 TB = 1,000 GB
Why the Difference Matters
When you buy a 1 TB hard drive, it might show as 931 GB on your computer. This happens because the manufacturer uses decimal (1 TB = 1,000 GB), but your computer uses binary (1 TB = 1,024 GB). Both are correct, just different systems.
Daily Uses of Digital Storage Conversion
Cloud Storage
Check file sizes before uploading to Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to make sure you have enough space.
Photo Management
Calculate how many photos you can store on your phone or camera memory card.
Video Streaming
Understand data usage when watching Netflix, YouTube, or downloading movies.
Device Shopping
Compare storage options when buying phones, tablets, or computers to get the right amount.
File Sharing
Check if files are small enough to send by email or if you need a file sharing service.
Backup Planning
Figure out how much backup storage you need for your important files and photos.
Storage Tips and Best Practices
Managing Your Storage
- ā¢Delete old photos and videos you don't need anymore
- ā¢Use cloud storage for files you don't access often
- ā¢Compress large files to save space
- ā¢Regularly clean up your downloads folder
Choosing Storage Size
- ā¢Basic users: 128-256 GB is usually enough
- ā¢Photo lovers: 512 GB - 1 TB for lots of pictures
- ā¢Video creators: 1-4 TB for video editing
- ā¢Gamers: 1-2 TB for modern games
Evolution of Digital Storage
1970s-1980s
Floppy disks were the main storage. They held very little data:
- ā¢ 5.25" floppy: 360 KB
- ā¢ 3.5" floppy: 1.44 MB
- ā¢ Hard drives: 5-10 MB
1990s
CDs became popular for music and software:
- ā¢ CD-ROM: 650-700 MB
- ā¢ Hard drives: 100 MB - 2 GB
- ā¢ ZIP disks: 100-250 MB
2000s
DVDs and USB drives changed everything:
- ā¢ DVD: 4.7-8.5 GB
- ā¢ USB drives: 64 MB - 8 GB
- ā¢ Hard drives: 20-500 GB
2010s-Today
Cloud storage and SSDs dominate:
- ā¢ SSDs: 128 GB - 8 TB
- ā¢ Cloud: Unlimited storage
- ā¢ Hard drives: Up to 20 TB
In just 50 years, we went from storing a few pages of text on a floppy disk to carrying thousands of movies in our pocket. Today's smartphones have more storage than entire computer labs from the 1990s. The future promises even more amazing advances in storage technology.
Types of Storage Devices
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
Capacity: 500 GB - 20 TB
Speed: Slower (mechanical)
Cost: Cheapest per GB
Best for: Large file storage, backups
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Capacity: 128 GB - 8 TB
Speed: Very fast (no moving parts)
Cost: More expensive per GB
Best for: Operating systems, programs
Cloud Storage
Capacity: Virtually unlimited
Speed: Depends on internet
Cost: Monthly subscription
Best for: Backup, sharing, access anywhere
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) uses the decimal system where 1 KB = 1,000 bytes. KiB (kibibyte) uses the binary system where 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes. The "i" in KiB stands for "binary." Computer systems typically use binary, while manufacturers often use decimal for marketing.
Why does my 1 TB hard drive show less space?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal units (1 TB = 1,000 GB), but your computer uses binary units (1 TB = 1,024 GB). A 1 TB drive actually has 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which equals about 931 GiB in binary. Some space is also used by the file system and formatting.
How much storage do I need for photos?
A typical smartphone photo is 2-8 MB. If you take 100 photos per month, you'll need about 200-800 MB monthly, or 2.4-9.6 GB per year. High-quality camera photos can be 10-50 MB each, so professional photographers need much more storage.
What uses the most storage space?
Videos use the most space, especially 4K videos. A 1-hour 4K video can be 25-100 GB. Games are also large, with modern games taking 50-150 GB. Photos and music use much less space in comparison.
How can I check how much storage I'm using?
On Windows, go to Settings > System > Storage. On Mac, click Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. On phones, check Settings > Storage (Android) or Settings > General > iPhone Storage (iOS). These show how much space you're using and what's taking up the most room.
Is cloud storage measured the same way?
Yes, cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud use the same storage units. They typically use decimal units (GB, TB) for marketing, but the actual file sizes are the same whether stored locally or in the cloud.
What's the largest storage unit?
The largest commonly used units are yottabytes (YB) and yobibytes (YiB). 1 YB = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes. However, these are mostly theoretical - current technology uses up to petabytes and exabytes for very large data centers.
How do I convert between different storage units?
To convert between units, multiply or divide by the conversion factor. For decimal units: multiply by 1,000 to go up (KB to MB) or divide by 1,000 to go down (MB to KB). For binary units, use 1,024 instead. Our converter does this automatically for you.