How to Convert Data Storage Units
Digital storage conversions help you understand phone storage, internet plans and file sizes. This converter uses the decimal (SI) system that storage manufacturers use: 1 gigabyte = 1,000 megabytes and 1 terabyte = 1,000 gigabytes. Note that operating systems sometimes report sizes in binary units (1 GiB = 1,024 MiB), which is why a "500 GB" drive shows as about 465 GB in Windows.
Common Data Conversion Factors
| Conversion | Result |
|---|---|
| 1 byte | 8 bits |
| 1 kilobyte (KB) | 1,000 bytes |
| 1 megabyte (MB) | 1,000 KB |
| 1 gigabyte (GB) | 1,000 MB |
| 1 terabyte (TB) | 1,000 GB |
Real-world sizes: a photo is roughly 3-5 MB, a song about 4 MB, an HD movie 4-8 GB, and a modern phone stores 128-512 GB.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MB are in a GB?
1 gigabyte equals 1,000 megabytes in the decimal system used by storage manufacturers.
How many GB are in a TB?
1 terabyte equals 1,000 gigabytes. So a 2 TB drive holds 2,000 GB.
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Manufacturers use decimal GB (1,000³ bytes) while operating systems often display binary GiB (1,024³ bytes), making the same drive appear about 7% smaller.
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