Digital Storage Converter
Convert between different digital storage units like bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB). Perfect for understanding file sizes and storage capacities.
Understanding Digital Storage Units
Our Digital Storage Converter helps you understand and convert between different units of digital storage. Whether you're working with file sizes, storage capacities, or data transfer rates, this calculator provides accurate conversions between various storage units.
Key Storage Concepts
Binary Prefixes (IEC)
Use powers of 1024 (2^10) and are the standard in computing. Examples: KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB.
Decimal Prefixes (SI)
Use powers of 1000 (10^3) and are often used by storage manufacturers. Examples: KB, MB, GB, TB.
Byte
The basic unit of digital information, typically representing a single character of text.
Kilobyte (KB/KiB)
1,024 bytes (binary) or 1,000 bytes (decimal), approximately the size of a short text document.
Megabyte (MB/MiB)
1,048,576 bytes (binary) or 1,000,000 bytes (decimal), approximately the size of a digital image.
Gigabyte (GB/GiB)
1,073,741,824 bytes (binary) or 1,000,000,000 bytes (decimal), approximately the size of a movie.
How to Use This Converter
- Enter a value in the input field
- Select the unit of the input value from the dropdown
- Choose the unit you want to convert to
- The converted value will appear automatically
- You can also use the "Swap Units" button to quickly switch between units
Common File Sizes
- Text File: A few KB (kilobytes)
- Image: 1-10 MB (megabytes)
- Video: 100 MB - 2 GB (gigabytes)
- HD Movie: 4-8 GB
- 4K Movie: 20-50 GB
- Hard Drive: 500 GB - 18 TB (terabytes)
Important Note:
When working with storage devices, manufacturers often use decimal prefixes (1 GB = 1000 MB) while operating systems use binary prefixes (1 GB = 1024 MB). This can lead to apparent discrepancies in reported storage capacities.