Data Size Converter
Convert between different data size units including bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and more. Supports both binary (1024) and decimal (1000) calculations.
Conversion Settings
Binary is commonly used in computing, decimal is used by storage manufacturers
No value entered
Conversion Result
Conversion result will appear here
Enter a value and click "Convert" to start
About Data Size Converter
A precise data size converter that handles conversions between various digital storage units from bytes to petabytes and beyond. This advanced tool supports both binary (1024-based) and decimal (1000-based) calculation methods to match different industry standards and system specifications.
Why use a Data Size Converter?
Critical for system administrators calculating storage requirements, developers optimizing file sizes, and IT professionals planning data infrastructure. Understanding both binary and decimal conversions is essential for accurate capacity planning and avoiding confusion between manufacturer specifications and actual usable storage.
Who is it for?
Essential for IT professionals, system administrators, software developers, and data analysts who work with storage systems and file management. Also valuable for students learning computer science concepts and anyone needing to understand storage capacity specifications across different platforms.
How to use the tool
Enter your data size value in the input field
Select the source unit (bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, etc.)
Choose between binary (1024) or decimal (1000) calculation method
Select your target conversion unit from the dropdown
View precise results with multiple decimal places for accuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert data size units?
Enter the source value, pick the 'from' and 'to' units, and the result appears instantly. Supports B (byte), KB / KiB, MB / MiB, GB / GiB, TB / TiB, PB / PiB, bit. Copy the converted value to clipboard. Conversion runs entirely in your browser — values never leave the device. Decimal precision is configurable; default shows 4-6 significant figures, appropriate for most use cases. For scientific work needing more precision, increase the decimal places in the settings.
What data size units does this converter support?
B (byte), KB / KiB, MB / MiB, GB / GiB, TB / TiB, PB / PiB, bit. The set covers SI base and derived units, common imperial/US-customary units, and domain-specific units where relevant. SI prefixes (k, M, G, m, μ, n) apply where applicable. For any unit not in the list that you need converted, mention it via feedback — the unit set evolves based on user requests.
How accurate is the data size conversion?
Conversions use exact internationally-defined factors where they exist — no rounding loss at the math level. The IEC 80000-13 standard (2008) formalized binary prefixes: kibi (Ki, 2¹⁰), mebi (Mi, 2²⁰), gibi (Gi, 2³⁰), tebi (Ti, 2⁴⁰), pebi (Pi, 2⁵⁰). Modern operating systems and OS-level tools (macOS, Windows, Linux file managers) usually display decimal-prefix values. Output precision is bounded by the displayed decimal places (configurable, typically 4-6 by default). For extreme precision needs (scientific publications), increase the displayed decimals to match your significant-figure requirements.
What's the formula to convert gigabytes (GB) to gibibytes (GiB)?
GiB = GB × 0.9313 (decimal-to-binary). Capacity planning — actual usable storage on a '4 TB' drive is ~3.6 TiB. Network transfer time calculations (decimal Mbps vs binary MB/s). Memory specs (RAM always binary; bandwidth often decimal). For other data size-unit pairs, the tool applies the appropriate exact conversion factor automatically — no manual formula needed. The conversion preserves precision to the displayed decimal places; choose precision to match your downstream use (engineering specs typically need 3-4 significant figures; scientific work may need more).
What's the key accuracy caveat for data size conversion?
**Decimal (KB = 1,000 B) vs binary (KiB = 1,024 B)** — this is why a '1 TB' hard drive shows ~931 GiB in your OS. Storage manufacturers use decimal (powers of 1,000): 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 B. Operating systems and RAM specs use binary (powers of 1,024): 1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 B. The difference grows with prefix: ~2.4% at KB/KiB, ~10% at TB/TiB. **IEC binary prefixes** (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB) were standardized in 1998 to disambiguate; the unprefixed forms (KB, MB, GB, TB) historically meant binary but now usually mean decimal.
What's a common real-world use case for data size conversion?
Capacity planning — actual usable storage on a '4 TB' drive is ~3.6 TiB. Network transfer time calculations (decimal Mbps vs binary MB/s). Memory specs (RAM always binary; bandwidth often decimal).
What data size units are commonly confused?
**KB vs KiB, MB vs MiB, GB vs GiB** — decimal vs binary; differ by ~2.4% per prefix step. **Bits vs bytes** — 1 byte = 8 bits; '100 Mbps' (megabits/s) is 12.5 MB/s (megabytes/s). **'GB'** — increasingly means decimal billion bytes; historically often binary.
How do I handle very large or very small data size values?
Use SI prefixes for clean scaling: kilo (10³), mega (10⁶), giga (10⁹), milli (10⁻³), micro (10⁻⁶), nano (10⁻⁹). For values beyond standard prefixes, the tool displays results in scientific notation (e.g. 1.23e+15) for readability. The IEC 80000-13 standard (2008) formalized binary prefixes: kibi (Ki, 2¹⁰), mebi (Mi, 2²⁰), gibi (Gi, 2³⁰), tebi (Ti, 2⁴⁰), pebi (Pi, 2⁵⁰). Modern operating systems and OS-level tools (macOS, Windows, Linux file managers) usually display decimal-prefix values. For data interchange to other tools, copy the raw value; for human readers, use the precision that matches the context.
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