File Size Converter
What Is It?
The File Size Converter converts data sizes between all common units: Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, Terabytes, and Petabytes. It also supports binary (IEC) units — Kibibytes (KiB), Mebibytes (MiB), Gibibytes (GiB), and Tebibytes (TiB) — which use powers of 1,024 instead of 1,000.
All 10 conversions are shown simultaneously with one input.
How to Use
- Enter a numeric value in the input field.
- Select the source unit from the dropdown (e.g., MB, GiB).
- All conversions update instantly.
- Click Copy next to any row to copy that value with its unit label.
Decimal vs Binary Units
| Decimal (SI) | Factor | Binary (IEC) | Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 KB | 1,000 B | 1 KiB | 1,024 B |
| 1 MB | 1,000 KB | 1 MiB | 1,024 KiB |
| 1 GB | 1,000 MB | 1 GiB | 1,024 MiB |
| 1 TB | 1,000 GB | 1 TiB | 1,024 GiB |
Note: Hard drive manufacturers use decimal units (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), while operating systems typically display binary units (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). This is why a “1 TB” drive shows as ~931 GiB on your OS.
Examples
| Input | Output (selected) |
|---|---|
| 1 GB | = 1,000 MB = 0.001 TB = 0.931 GiB |
| 4 MiB | ≈ 4.194 MB = 4,096 KiB |
| 500 MB | = 0.5 GB = 500,000 KB |
Benefits
- 10 simultaneous conversions — see all values at once without re-entering.
- Both SI and IEC standards — support for both decimal and binary unit systems.
- Copy individual values — one-click copy with unit label for any row.
- Handles large and tiny values — scientific notation for extreme sizes.
- Quick reference card — built-in guide to SI vs IEC conversion ratios.
Common Use Cases
- Converting storage specs when comparing hard drives, SSDs, or RAM.
- Calculating bandwidth requirements for data transfer estimates.
- Checking upload/download limits on cloud storage platforms.
- Converting memory limits in container configurations (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Understanding the difference between advertised and actual disk capacity.
- Calculating database table or index sizes for storage planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my hard drive showing less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal units (1 GB = 10⁹ bytes), while operating systems like Windows and macOS display binary units (1 GiB = 2³⁰ bytes ≈ 1.074 GB). A “1 TB” drive actually holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which equals approximately 931 GiB — hence the apparent discrepancy.
What is a Petabyte?
A Petabyte (PB) is 1,000 Terabytes or approximately 1 quadrillion bytes. Large data centers and enterprise databases operate at petabyte scale. For comparison, the entire printed collection of the Library of Congress is estimated at around 10 terabytes.
When should I use binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB)?
Use binary units when working with RAM, operating system memory allocation, programming buffers, or any context where values are inherently powers of two. Use decimal units (KB, MB, GB) when dealing with network speeds, storage capacity advertised by manufacturers, or file transfer rates.
