EveryToolData Storage Converter
Data storage sizes are confusing. Hard drive manufacturers use decimal gigabytes (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes) while operating systems use binary gibibytes (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). The EveryTool Data Storage Converter eliminates the confusion by showing both decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) values simultaneously - unlike most converters that only show one standard. Convert instantly, understand why your hard drive shows less space than advertised, and estimate file transfer times accurately. Free, no signup, runs entirely in your browser.
Decimal: Hard drive manufacturers use Decimal (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes) - more gigabytes on the label.
Binary: Your OS uses Binary (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes) - fewer shown in File Explorer.
→ This is why a "1 TB" drive shows as ~931 GB in Windows, or ~1 TB in macOS.
DECIMAL (SI)
BINARY (IEC)
File Transfer Time Calculator
Speed Presets
Estimated transfer time for 10 mbps:
≈ 12500000.0 B/s effective throughput
💡 Internet speeds are in megabits (Mbps); file sizes are in megabytes (MB). This tool converts automatically - no mental math needed.
Why Does My Drive Show Less?
Advertised vs actual OS capacity
How Many Files Fit?
256 GB can hold approximately:
Smartphone photos (JPEG)
| File Type | Typical Size | Load |
|---|---|---|
| 📄Plain text file | 1–10 KB | |
| 🌐Web page (HTML only) | 50–200 KB | |
| 📷JPEG photo (smartphone) | 2–6 MB | |
| 📸JPEG photo (DSLR RAW) | 20–40 MB | |
| 🎵MP3 song (128 kbps, 3 min) | ~3 MB | |
| 🎶MP3 song (320 kbps, 3 min) | ~7 MB | |
| 🎬HD video (1 min, 1080p) | ~150 MB | |
| 🎥4K video (1 min) | ~375 MB | |
| 🍿Feature film (HD) | 4–8 GB | |
| 📀Feature film (4K Blu-ray) | 50–100 GB | |
| 🎮AAA video game | 50–150 GB | |
| 🪟Windows 11 install | ~20 GB | |
| 🍎macOS Sequoia installer | ~15 GB | |
| 📱Typical smartphone backup | 5–20 GB | |
| 🎙️1-hour podcast (MP3) | ~55 MB | |
| 📋PDF document (10 pages) | 0.5–2 MB |
Quick Conversions
100% Free & 100% Private
All processing happens entirely in your browser. We never upload your data to any server. No signup, no account, no hidden fees. Just free, secure tools.
How to Convert Data Storage Units
- Enter your value in the input field and select your unit from the dropdown
- Both decimal and binary equivalents are shown simultaneously in two columns
- Click any unit in the output to make it the new reference for bidirectional conversion
- Use the "Why Does My Drive Show Less Space?" calculator to understand storage discrepancies
- Use the Storage Capacity Estimator to calculate how much content fits on a drive
- Use the Transfer Time calculator to estimate download or copy times
Decimal vs Binary: The Critical Difference
The decimal (SI) standard defines 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Storage manufacturers use this standard because it makes their drives appear larger. The binary (IEC) standard defines 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Operating systems use this standard for historical reasons tied to how computer memory is addressed. The IEC introduced the kibibyte/mebibyte/gibibyte notation in 1998 specifically to resolve the ambiguity, but the industry has been slow to adopt it uniformly. The result is that a drive advertised as "1 TB" by its manufacturer contains 1,000,000,000,000 bytes which your OS reports as approximately 931 GB - the "missing" ~69 GB is a measurement artifact, not actual missing storage.
Bits vs Bytes: A Constant Source of Confusion
A bit is the fundamental unit of digital information - a single 0 or 1. A byte is 8 bits and is the standard unit for file sizes. Internet speeds are always rated in bits per second (Mbps, Gbps) while file sizes are always in bytes (KB, MB, GB). To convert a download speed in Mbps to a file transfer rate in MB/s, divide by 8 - a 100 Mbps connection transfers approximately 12.5 MB per second.
Common Data Size Reference
A plain text email is typically a few KB. A high-resolution smartphone photo is 3–6 MB. A three-minute MP3 song is about 3–7 MB. A 1080p HD video runs about 150 MB per minute. A modern AAA video game install is 50–150 GB. A full 4K Blu-ray movie can reach 100 GB uncompressed. Understanding these reference points helps make sense of storage capacity and data usage.
Key Features
- Decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) standards shown simultaneously
- All units from bits to yottabytes and yobibytes
- "Why does my drive show less space?" calculator with visual comparison
- Storage Capacity Estimator (photos, songs, videos, documents)
- File Transfer Time calculator with speed unit conversion (Mbps, MBps, Gbps)
- Real-world file size reference table
- Quick conversion panel for 8 most searched pairs
- BigInt-based precision for large storage values
- Works on all devices including mobile
- 100% free - no signup, no account, no data uploaded
Conversion Formulas
GB = MB ÷ 1,000TB = GB ÷ 1,000GiB = MiB ÷ 1,024MB/s = Mbps ÷ 8KB = bytes ÷ 1,000MB = GB × 1,000Frequently Asked Questions
How many MB are in a GB?
In the decimal (SI) standard used by storage manufacturers, 1 GB = 1,000 MB exactly. In the binary (IEC) standard used by operating systems, 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB. This difference explains why a drive advertised as 1 GB shows slightly less in your OS. This converter shows both standards simultaneously so you can see the decimal and binary values at the same time.
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers measure capacity using decimal units (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes) because it makes their drives appear larger. Operating systems like Windows and macOS measure using binary units (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 1 TB drive contains exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which your OS displays as approximately 931 GB. No storage is missing - it is a measurement standard difference. This calculator shows both values so you can see exactly what your OS will report.
What is the difference between MB and MiB?
MB (megabyte) is the decimal unit where 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, used by storage manufacturers and network providers. MiB (mebibyte) is the binary unit where 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, used by operating systems for memory and storage reporting. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced the MiB, GiB, and TiB notation in 1998 specifically to eliminate this ambiguity, but both terms remain widely used interchangeably in practice.
What is the difference between bits and bytes?
A bit is the smallest unit of digital information - a single 0 or 1. A byte is 8 bits and is the standard unit for measuring file sizes and storage capacity. Internet and network speeds are always rated in bits per second (Mbps, Gbps), while file sizes are always in bytes (KB, MB, GB). To convert Mbps to MB/s, divide by 8. A 100 Mbps connection downloads at approximately 12.5 MB per second.
How do I convert MB to GB?
To convert megabytes to gigabytes using the decimal standard: divide by 1,000. Example: 2,500 MB ÷ 1,000 = 2.5 GB. Using the binary standard: divide by 1,024. Example: 2,500 MiB ÷ 1,024 = 2.44 GiB. Storage manufacturers use the decimal standard, while operating systems typically use the binary standard. This converter handles both automatically - enter your value and both results appear instantly.
How long does it take to download 1 GB?
At 100 Mbps internet speed, downloading 1 GB (8,000 megabits) takes approximately 80 seconds. At 1 Gbps (gigabit fiber), it takes about 8 seconds. At 25 Mbps (typical broadband), roughly 5 minutes 20 seconds. Remember that internet speeds are measured in megabits (Mb) while file sizes are in megabytes (MB) - divide the speed in Mbps by 8 to get the actual download rate in MB/s. Use the File Transfer Time calculator on this page for any combination.
How many photos fit in 1 GB?
Approximately 250 smartphone JPEG photos at roughly 4 MB each fit in 1 GB of storage. DSLR RAW photos (approximately 25 MB each) give about 40 per GB. High-resolution HEIC photos from modern iPhones at around 2–3 MB each give approximately 350–500 per GB. Use the Storage Capacity Estimator on this page to calculate how many photos, videos, songs, or other file types fit on any drive size.
Is this data storage converter free?
Yes, completely free with no account or signup required. All conversions run instantly in your browser - no data is sent to any server. There are no usage limits, no premium tier, and no watermarks. The converter works on all devices including mobile phones and tablets without any installation.
Is MB bigger than KB?
Yes. 1 MB (megabyte) equals 1,000 KB (kilobytes) in the decimal standard, or 1,024 KiB in the binary standard. The order from smallest to largest is: Bit → Byte → Kilobyte (KB) → Megabyte (MB) → Gigabyte (GB) → Terabyte (TB) → Petabyte (PB) → Exabyte (EB). Each unit is approximately 1,000 times larger than the previous one in the decimal system, or 1,024 times larger in the binary system.
How many GB are in a TB?
In the decimal (SI) standard, 1 TB = 1,000 GB exactly. In the binary (IEC) standard, 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB. Storage manufacturers use the decimal standard, so a 2 TB hard drive contains 2,000 GB by the manufacturer's definition. Your operating system may display it as approximately 1,819 GB because it uses binary units. This converter shows both values simultaneously to eliminate confusion.
What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps (megabits per second) measures network speed in bits. MB/s (megabytes per second) measures file transfer speed in bytes. Since 1 byte = 8 bits, you divide Mbps by 8 to get MB/s. A 100 Mbps internet connection transfers files at about 12.5 MB/s. A 1 Gbps connection transfers at about 125 MB/s. This is why downloading a 1 GB file on a '100 Mbps connection' takes about 80 seconds, not 10 seconds.
How much is 1 terabyte in gigabytes?
1 terabyte (TB) = 1,000 gigabytes (GB) in the decimal standard used by storage manufacturers. In the binary standard used by operating systems, 1 tebibyte (TiB) = 1,024 gibibytes (GiB). When you buy a 1 TB hard drive, it contains 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, but your Windows or macOS system will display it as approximately 931 GB because it measures in binary units. The difference is about 7% at the terabyte level.
What is a gigabyte?
A gigabyte (GB) is a unit of digital storage equal to 1,000 megabytes (MB) in the decimal standard, or 1,000,000,000 bytes. In the binary standard, a gibibyte (GiB) equals 1,024 mebibytes (MiB), or 1,073,741,824 bytes. Common real-world reference: a modern smartphone typically has 64–512 GB of storage, a typical feature film is 4–8 GB, and a 3-minute MP3 song is about 3–7 MB.
What does SI and IEC mean for storage units?
SI (International System of Units) uses decimal prefixes: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes, 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Storage manufacturers (hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards) use SI units. IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) uses binary prefixes: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. Operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) use IEC-based binary units, which is why drive capacity appears smaller than advertised.
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