Data Storage Converter
Enter a value and choose your source and target units to convert instantly between bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes.
How the Data Storage Converter formula works
This calculator uses the common binary convention (1024 per step), the way operating systems typically display file and drive sizes:
1 byte = 8 bits 1 KB = 1024 bytes 1 MB = 1024 KB 1 GB = 1024 MB 1 TB = 1024 GB
Step-by-step calculation
- Convert the entered value into bytes using its unit's factor.
- Convert that byte value into the target unit by dividing by the target's factor.
- Round to a readable number of decimal places.
Worked example
Converting 2.5 GB to MB: 2.5 × 1024 = 2,560 MB. Converting 500 MB to GB: 500 / 1024 ≈ 0.49 GB.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some tools show slightly different results for the same conversion?
Storage can be measured in binary (1024-based, what operating systems typically show) or decimal (1000-based, what manufacturers typically use on packaging) — the two conventions diverge more as file sizes grow, which is why a drive labeled '1 TB' often shows as roughly 931 GB in your operating system.
Which convention does this calculator use?
Binary (1024-based) throughout, matching how most operating systems report file and folder sizes.