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Byte Converters

Convert bytes to kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and binary units such as kibibytes, mebibytes and gibibytes.

What this tool does

Convert bytes to kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and binary units such as kibibytes, mebibytes and gibibytes. Type an amount in bytes, choose the units, and the tool converts it to kilobytes. It offers 17 data storage units and also shows the same amount in the others.

Inputs

  • Value: A number.
  • From: Choose one from 17 options, including Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, Petabyte. Starts as Byte.
  • To: Choose one of the same 17 units as "From". Starts as Kilobyte.

How to use

  1. Enter the amount you want to convert.
  2. Choose the unit to convert from and the unit to convert to.
  3. Read the result: the converted amount and the same amount in the other units. It appears once every required field has a valid value.

Worked examples

Conversions from bytes to kilobytes:

  • 1 B = 0.001 kB
  • 5 B = 0.005 kB
  • 10 B = 0.01 kB
  • 50 B = 0.05 kB
  • 100 B = 0.1 kB

Multiply the number of bytes by 0.001 to get kilobytes. Both units are exact definitions, so 0.001 is the exact factor: 1 B = 0.001 kB.

Sources: Byte: IEC 80000-13:2008. Kilobyte: SI Brochure, 9th edition (2019, updated 2022), Table 7 (SI prefixes).

Limitations

  • Decimal units (kilo, mega, giga) count in thousands, and binary units (kibi, mebi, gibi) count in 1024s. Operating systems and drive makers do not always use the same one, so check which your source means.
  • Converts the size of data only. It does not estimate how much of a drive a type of file will use.

FAQs

Q: How many bytes are in a kilobyte?
A: In the decimal (SI) system, 1 kilobyte is 1000 bytes. In the binary (IEC) system, 1 kibibyte is 1024 bytes.
Q: Why does my drive show less space than advertised?
A: Drive makers count in decimal units, so 1 terabyte is 1000000000000 bytes. Many operating systems count in binary units, where 1 tebibyte is 1099511627776 bytes, so 1 terabyte is about 0.9095 tebibytes.
Q: What are kibibytes, mebibytes and gibibytes?
A: They are the IEC names for binary multiples: kibi, mebi and gibi mean 1024, 1024 squared and 1024 cubed bytes. Kilobyte, megabyte and gigabyte mean 1000, 1000 squared and 1000 cubed bytes.

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