Is 1 KB equal to 1000 or 1024 bytes?

Two standards exist. In SI (decimal): 1 KB = 1,000 bytes (used by HDD manufacturers). In IEC (binary): 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes (used by OSes and software). This tool uses the IEC standard (powers of 1024).

Why does my HDD show less space than advertised?

HDD manufacturers label capacity in decimal (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), while OSes display in binary (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 1 TB drive therefore shows as ~931 GiB in your OS.

How do I convert network speed from Mbps to MB/s?

Network bandwidth is typically in bits. To convert Mbps to MB/s, divide by 8. Example: 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s. Actual download speeds are ~10–15% lower due to protocol overhead.

What is the difference between KB and KiB?

KB (Kilobyte) is ambiguous — it means either 1000 or 1024 bytes depending on context. KiB (Kibibyte) is the unambiguous IEC 60027-2 standard meaning exactly 1024 bytes. Use KiB/MiB/GiB to avoid confusion.

MBByte Converter

Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB

Bytes (바이트)

1,073,741,824

KB (킬로바이트)

1,048,576

MB (메가바이트)

1,024

GB (기가바이트)

TB (테라바이트)

0.000977

PB (페타바이트)

0.000001

Byte Converter Complete Guide

Byte Converter instantly calculates conversions between digital storage units — Bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, and PB. Handy for comparing file sizes, planning storage capacity, and calculating network bandwidth. This tool uses binary units based on powers of 1024 (IEC standard).

Binary vs Decimal — KiB vs KB

Two competing standards exist for digital storage units:

Unit	Standard	Base	Actual bytes	Used by
KB (Kilobyte)	SI (decimal)	10³	1,000	HDD manufacturers, networking
KiB (Kibibyte)	IEC (binary)	2¹⁰	1,024	OSes, software
MB (Megabyte)	SI (decimal)	10⁶	1,000,000	HDD, USB labeling
MiB (Mebibyte)	IEC (binary)	2²⁰	1,048,576	RAM, filesystems
GB (Gigabyte)	SI (decimal)	10⁹	1,000,000,000	Storage product advertising
GiB (Gibibyte)	IEC (binary)	2³⁰	1,073,741,824	Windows File Explorer

This gap is why HDD manufacturers' decimal labeling makes drives look larger. A 1 TB drive shows as ~931 GiB in your OS.

File Size Notation Standards — IEC / SI

IEC 60027-2: The official binary prefix standard (KiB, MiB, GiB). Followed by Linux, macOS Big Sur+, and many software tools.
SI: Decimal prefixes (KB, MB, GB). Used by HDD/SSD manufacturers and network equipment.
Windows: Labels files as KB/MB/GB but actually calculates in binary 1024 base (technically KiB labeled as KB).
macOS: Switched to SI (decimal) from macOS Big Sur (macOS 11), aligning with HDD manufacturer labeling.

Network Bandwidth Calculation

Network speeds use bits; file sizes use bytes. 1 byte = 8 bits.

100 Mbps internet = max 12.5 MB/s download (100 ÷ 8)
1 Gbps connection = max 125 MB/s
Real-world speeds are 10–15% lower due to protocol overhead and TCP window size
Downloading 1 GB on a 100 Mbps line: approximately 80–100 seconds

Common File Size Reference

File Type	Typical Size
JPEG photo (smartphone)	3–8 MB
RAW photo (full-frame)	20–50 MB
MP3 (3 minutes)	3–5 MB
Full HD video (1 hour)	1.5–4 GB
4K video (1 hour)	7–15 GB
AAA video game	30–150 GB

FAQ

Q. Is 1 KB 1000 or 1024 bytes?

Both standards exist. HDD manufacturers use 1 KB = 1,000 bytes (SI). OSes and software use 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes (IEC). This tool uses the IEC 1024-based standard.

Q. Why does my 1 TB SSD show as 931 GB in the OS?

Manufacturers label using decimal (10⁹) while the OS calculates in binary (2³⁰). 1,000,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 ≈ 931 GiB.

Q. How do I convert Mbps to MB/s?

Divide by 8. 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s. Network speeds are in bits; file sizes are in bytes.

Q. How large is a petabyte?

1 PB = 1,024 TB ≈ 1.125 quadrillion bytes. Global internet traffic runs at hundreds of petabytes per day.