Data Converter
Convert bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, Mbps, MB/s and more accurately
Quick Reference
What is a Data Converter?
A data converter is an essential tool for IT professionals, developers and technical users who need to convert between different storage units (bits, bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB) and transfer speeds (bps, Kbps, Mbps, Gbps, KB/s, MB/s).
This tool is crucial for understanding hardware specifications, internet speeds, file sizes and system performance. The difference between bits and bytes is fundamental: 8 bits = 1 byte, and ISPs typically advertise speeds in Mbps while downloads are shown in MB/s.
How to Use this Converter
Select the category: Storage (for file and disk sizes) or Transfer Speed (for internet and network connections).
Choose the source unit you want to convert from (for example, Megabytes or Mbps).
Select the destination unit you want to convert to (for example, Gigabytes or MB/s).
Enter the numerical value and click 'Convert' to see the result instantly.
What is the Data Converter For?
Internet Speed
Convert contracted speed in Mbps to actual download speed in MB/s. For example, 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s.
Data Storage
Calculate how much space you need in GB or TB to store files, photos, videos or databases.
Download Time
Estimate how long a download will take by converting file size and your internet speed to compatible units.
Development & Systems
Optimize applications by understanding file sizes, required bandwidth and data transfer performance.
Practical Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps (Megabits per second) measures transfer speed in bits, while MB/s (Megabytes per second) measures in bytes. Since 1 byte = 8 bits, to convert Mbps to MB/s you must divide by 8. For example: 100 Mbps ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s. ISPs advertise in Mbps because the number looks bigger, but downloads are shown in MB/s.
Why is 1 KB 1,024 bytes and not 1,000?
In computing, the binary system (base 2) is used instead of decimal (base 10). 1 KB = 2^10 = 1,024 bytes. This is because computers work with powers of 2. There is also the decimal Kilobyte (1,000 bytes), but in most computing contexts binary (1,024) is used.
How long does it take to download a 5 GB file at 100 Mbps?
First convert 100 Mbps to MB/s: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s. Then, 5 GB = 5,120 MB. Time = 5,120 MB ÷ 12.5 MB/s = 409.6 seconds ≈ 6.8 minutes. Note: this is theoretical; in practice it may be slower due to latency, protocol overhead and server limitations.
What is a Petabyte and when is it used?
A Petabyte (PB) is 1,024 Terabytes or approximately 1,000,000 Gigabytes. It's used in massive data centers, large tech companies, scientific research (such as space telescopes or particle accelerators) and global streaming services. For example, Netflix manages several Petabytes of video content.