Data Storage Converter
Convert between different units of digital storage including bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes. Get accurate conversions for file sizes, storage capacity, and data transfer calculations.
Last updated: 2024-03-26
Understanding Data Storage Units
| Unit | Equals | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bit (b) | The smallest unit of digital information | Network speed (Mbps) Data transmission rates |
| Byte (B) | 8 bits | File sizes Small text storage |
| Kilobyte (KB) | 1,024 bytes | Text documents Small images |
| Megabyte (MB) | 1,024 kilobytes | Photos Short audio files |
| Gigabyte (GB) | 1,024 megabytes | Movies Operating systems Applications |
| Terabyte (TB) | 1,024 gigabytes | Hard drives Large databases System backups |
| Petabyte (PB) | 1,024 terabytes | Data centers Cloud storage Scientific research data |
Binary vs. Decimal Storage Units
| Standard | Base | Prefixes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binary (IEC) | Powers of 2 (1024 = 2^10) | KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB | 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes |
| Decimal (SI) | Powers of 10 (1000 = 10^3) | KB, MB, GB, TB, PB | 1 KB = 1,000 bytes |
This converter uses the binary (IEC) standard which is most commonly used in computing contexts, meaning:
- 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1,024 bytes
- 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1,024 KB = 1,048,576 bytes
- 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 MB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
This is why a 1TB hard drive typically shows up as approximately 931GB in your operating system - the manufacturer uses the decimal system (1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes) while your OS uses the binary system (1TB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes).
Common Data Storage Conversions
| Conversion | Result | Practical Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 byte to bits | 8 bits | ASCII character = 1 byte = 8 bits |
| 1 MB to KB | 1,024 KB | Small JPEG image ≈ 1 MB |
| 1 GB to MB | 1,024 MB | MP3 album ≈ 100-150 MB |
| 1 TB to GB | 1,024 GB | 4K movie ≈ 100 GB |
| 1 PB to TB | 1,024 TB | Large research dataset |
Some other useful data storage facts:
- A 4K movie can take up 50-100 GB of storage
- A typical modern smartphone has 128-256 GB of storage
- A high-resolution RAW photo from a professional camera might be 20-60 MB
- 1 petabyte could store approximately 500 billion pages of standard text
- The human brain's memory storage capacity is estimated to be around 2.5 petabytes
Network Speeds and Data Transfer
Network Speed Units
Network speeds are typically measured in bits per second (not bytes), which can be confusing:
| Speed | Bits per Second | Bytes per Second | To Download 1 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | 1,000,000 bits/s | 125 KB/s | ≈ 2.3 hours |
| 10 Mbps | 10,000,000 bits/s | 1.25 MB/s | ≈ 14 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 100,000,000 bits/s | 12.5 MB/s | ≈ 85 seconds |
| 1 Gbps | 1,000,000,000 bits/s | 125 MB/s | ≈ 8.5 seconds |
Note that actual download speeds are typically slower than the advertised speeds due to network overhead, congestion, and other factors. A rule of thumb for estimating download time is:
Download time (seconds) = File size (bits) ÷ Connection speed (bits per second)
Data Storage Evolution and Future Trends
Storage Density Evolution
The cost per gigabyte of storage has decreased dramatically over time:
- 1980s: $100,000+ per GB
- 1990s: $1,000-10,000 per GB
- 2000s: $1-100 per GB
- 2010s: $0.10-0.03 per GB
- 2020s: $0.01-0.02 per GB
Emerging Storage Technologies
Future storage technologies promise even greater capacities:
- DNA Storage: Potentially storing exabytes (1,000,000 TB) in a sugar-cube sized container
- Holographic Storage: Using 3D space to store terabytes in small discs
- Quantum Storage: Leveraging quantum states to dramatically increase storage density
Global Data Creation
The amount of data created globally is increasing exponentially:
- In 2020, approximately 64.2 zettabytes (ZB) of data was created - that's 64.2 billion terabytes
- By 2025, global data creation is projected to exceed 180 zettabytes
- IDC estimates that 90% of this data is "unstructured data" (emails, videos, documents, etc.)
Understanding Data Storage Units
| Unit | Equals | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Bit (b) | The smallest unit of digital information | Network speed (Mbps) Data transmission rates |
| Byte (B) | 8 bits | File sizes Small text storage |
| Kilobyte (KB) | 1,024 bytes | Text documents Small images |
| Megabyte (MB) | 1,024 kilobytes | Photos Short audio files |
| Gigabyte (GB) | 1,024 megabytes | Movies Operating systems Applications |
| Terabyte (TB) | 1,024 gigabytes | Hard drives Large databases System backups |
| Petabyte (PB) | 1,024 terabytes | Data centers Cloud storage Scientific research data |
Binary vs. Decimal Storage Units
| Standard | Base | Prefixes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binary (IEC) | Powers of 2 (1024 = 2^10) | KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB, PiB | 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes |
| Decimal (SI) | Powers of 10 (1000 = 10^3) | KB, MB, GB, TB, PB | 1 KB = 1,000 bytes |
This converter uses the binary (IEC) standard which is most commonly used in computing contexts, meaning:
- 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1,024 bytes
- 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1,024 KB = 1,048,576 bytes
- 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 MB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
This is why a 1TB hard drive typically shows up as approximately 931GB in your operating system - the manufacturer uses the decimal system (1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes) while your OS uses the binary system (1TB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes).
Common Data Storage Conversions
| Conversion | Result | Practical Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 byte to bits | 8 bits | ASCII character = 1 byte = 8 bits |
| 1 MB to KB | 1,024 KB | Small JPEG image ≈ 1 MB |
| 1 GB to MB | 1,024 MB | MP3 album ≈ 100-150 MB |
| 1 TB to GB | 1,024 GB | 4K movie ≈ 100 GB |
| 1 PB to TB | 1,024 TB | Large research dataset |
Some other useful data storage facts:
- A 4K movie can take up 50-100 GB of storage
- A typical modern smartphone has 128-256 GB of storage
- A high-resolution RAW photo from a professional camera might be 20-60 MB
- 1 petabyte could store approximately 500 billion pages of standard text
- The human brain's memory storage capacity is estimated to be around 2.5 petabytes
Network Speeds and Data Transfer
Network Speed Units
Network speeds are typically measured in bits per second (not bytes), which can be confusing:
| Speed | Bits per Second | Bytes per Second | To Download 1 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | 1,000,000 bits/s | 125 KB/s | ≈ 2.3 hours |
| 10 Mbps | 10,000,000 bits/s | 1.25 MB/s | ≈ 14 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 100,000,000 bits/s | 12.5 MB/s | ≈ 85 seconds |
| 1 Gbps | 1,000,000,000 bits/s | 125 MB/s | ≈ 8.5 seconds |
Note that actual download speeds are typically slower than the advertised speeds due to network overhead, congestion, and other factors. A rule of thumb for estimating download time is:
Download time (seconds) = File size (bits) ÷ Connection speed (bits per second)
Data Storage Evolution and Future Trends
Storage Density Evolution
The cost per gigabyte of storage has decreased dramatically over time:
- 1980s: $100,000+ per GB
- 1990s: $1,000-10,000 per GB
- 2000s: $1-100 per GB
- 2010s: $0.10-0.03 per GB
- 2020s: $0.01-0.02 per GB
Emerging Storage Technologies
Future storage technologies promise even greater capacities:
- DNA Storage: Potentially storing exabytes (1,000,000 TB) in a sugar-cube sized container
- Holographic Storage: Using 3D space to store terabytes in small discs
- Quantum Storage: Leveraging quantum states to dramatically increase storage density
Global Data Creation
The amount of data created globally is increasing exponentially:
- In 2020, approximately 64.2 zettabytes (ZB) of data was created - that's 64.2 billion terabytes
- By 2025, global data creation is projected to exceed 180 zettabytes
- IDC estimates that 90% of this data is "unstructured data" (emails, videos, documents, etc.)