💾 File Size Converter
Convert between bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, and more
About File Size Conversion
File sizes can be measured using two different standards: decimal (base 10) and binary (base 2). This converter supports both standards to help you accurately convert between different file size units.
Decimal vs Binary
Decimal (SI Standard): Uses powers of 1000
- 1 KB (Kilobyte) = 1,000 bytes
- 1 MB (Megabyte) = 1,000 KB = 1,000,000 bytes
- 1 GB (Gigabyte) = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
- 1 TB (Terabyte) = 1,000 GB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes
Binary (IEC Standard): Uses powers of 1024
- 1 KiB (Kibibyte) = 1,024 bytes
- 1 MiB (Mebibyte) = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
- 1 GiB (Gibibyte) = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
- 1 TiB (Tebibyte) = 1,024 GiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes
Common File Sizes
| File Type | Typical Size |
|---|---|
| Text Document | 10-100 KB |
| High-Quality Photo | 2-10 MB |
| MP3 Song (3 min) | 3-5 MB |
| HD Video (1 hour) | 1-4 GB |
| 4K Video (1 hour) | 7-20 GB |
| Video Game | 20-100 GB |
Storage Capacity Examples
- USB Flash Drive: 8 GB - 256 GB
- SSD: 256 GB - 4 TB
- Hard Drive: 500 GB - 20 TB
- Smartphone: 64 GB - 1 TB
- Cloud Storage: 5 GB - Unlimited
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (Kilobyte) uses the decimal system (1 KB = 1,000 bytes), while KiB (Kibibyte) uses the binary system (1 KiB = 1,024 bytes). The difference becomes more significant with larger units. For example, 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes, but 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes.
Why do hard drives show less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal (base 10) measurements, while operating systems typically use binary (base 2). A "1 TB" drive has 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, but your OS shows it as 931 GiB because it's calculating 1,000,000,000,000 ÷ 1,073,741,824 = 931 GiB.
How many MB is 1 GB?
In decimal (SI standard), 1 GB = 1,000 MB. In binary (IEC standard), 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB. Most consumer applications and internet speeds use the decimal system, while computer memory and some operating systems use binary.
Which standard should I use?
Use decimal for storage devices (hard drives, SSDs, USB drives) and internet speeds. Use binary for RAM, file sizes reported by operating systems, and technical computing contexts. When in doubt, check which standard your specific application or device uses.