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File Size Converter

Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB & more

Binary (1024)

  • Bytes1,073,741,824
  • KB1,048,576
  • MB1,024
  • GB1
  • TB0.000977
  • PB9.5367e-7

Decimal (1000)

  • Bytes1,000,000,000
  • KB1,000,000
  • MB1,000
  • GB1
  • TB0.001
  • PB1.0000e-6

Common Examples

  • A plain text email~20 KB
  • A high-res photo~5 MB
  • A song (MP3)~4 MB
  • A 1-hour podcast~60 MB
  • A 4K movie~100 GB
  • A smartphone backup~64 GB
  • A AAA game install~80 GB

What is a File Size Converter?

A file size converter translates between digital storage units like bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. The confusion arises because there are two standards: binary (where 1 KB = 1,024 bytes, used by operating systems) and decimal (where 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, used by storage manufacturers). This is why a "500 GB" hard drive shows roughly 465 GB in your file manager.

How to Use

  1. Enter a file size value in the input field.
  2. Select the source unit (e.g., MB, GB, TB).
  3. View the equivalent size in all other units, displayed in both binary and decimal conventions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?

Drive manufacturers use decimal units (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes) because it yields larger numbers. Your operating system reports in binary units (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A "1 TB" drive contains 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which is only 931 GiB-a 7% difference that grows with larger drives. Additionally, some space is used for formatting and file system overhead, reducing usable capacity further. This is why a "256 GB" SSD might show only 238 GB available in your operating system.

What are kibibytes, mebibytes, and gibibytes?

These are the IEC standard names for binary units: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. They were introduced in 1998 to eliminate ambiguity, though most people still say "kilobyte" and "megabyte" for both. Linux and some scientific software use KiB/MiB/GiB notation, while Windows still displays "GB" when it actually means GiB. macOS switched to decimal units in 2009, which is why the same drive shows different sizes on Mac vs Windows.

Why do RAM sizes always come in powers of 2?

RAM is addressed using binary logic-each address line doubles the addressable space. This makes capacities like 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB natural boundaries. RAM always uses binary measurement, so 8 GB of RAM is exactly 8,589,934,592 bytes. This is also why you never see RAM sticks in sizes like 6 GB or 12 GB (though some configurations combine different stick sizes). The binary nature of memory addressing is fundamental to how CPUs access data.