Data Storage Converter Formula

Understand the math behind the data storage converter. Each variable explained with a worked example.

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Formulas Used

Kilobytes

kb = value / 1024

Megabytes

mb = value / pow(1024, 2)

Gigabytes

gb = value / pow(1024, 3)

Terabytes

tb = value / pow(1024, 4)

Bits

bits = value * 8

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
valueData Size(bytes)1073741824

How It Works

Data Storage Converter

Conversion Factors from Bytes (Binary)

  • Kilobytes: bytes / 1,024
  • Megabytes: bytes / 1,048,576
  • Gigabytes: bytes / 1,073,741,824
  • Terabytes: bytes / 1,099,511,627,776
  • Bits: bytes × 8

    • Note: This converter uses binary (base-2) units where 1 KB = 1,024 bytes.

    Worked Example

    Convert 1,073,741,824 bytes (1 GB) to other units.

    value = 1073741824
    1. 01KB = 1073741824 / 1024 = 1048576 KB
    2. 02MB = 1073741824 / 1048576 = 1024 MB
    3. 03GB = 1073741824 / 1073741824 = 1 GB
    4. 04TB = 1073741824 / 1099511627776 = 0.000976563 TB

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?

    There are 1,024 megabytes in 1 gigabyte (binary). In decimal notation, 1 GB = 1,000 MB.

    What is the difference between MB and MiB?

    MB (megabyte) commonly refers to 1,048,576 bytes in computing. MiB (mebibyte) is the strict binary prefix form equal to 1,048,576 bytes, while the SI definition of MB is 1,000,000 bytes.

    Learn More

    Guide

    Data Storage Units Guide: Bits, Bytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, and Beyond

    Understand data storage units from bits to yottabytes. Learn the difference between decimal and binary prefixes, how to convert between units, and practical storage guidance.

    Ready to run the numbers?

    Open Data Storage Converter