MB to GBThe storage unit reference
Data Size Units
Exact byte factors for decimal and binary storage units.
Standard units and exact factors
| Unit | Name | Standard | Exact bytes |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | byte | Base unit | 1 |
| kB | kilobyte (input alias: KB) | SI decimal | 1,000 |
| MB | megabyte | SI decimal | 1,000,000 |
| GB | gigabyte | SI decimal | 1,000,000,000 |
| TB | terabyte | SI decimal | 1,000,000,000,000 |
| PB | petabyte | SI decimal | 1,000,000,000,000,000 |
| KiB | kibibyte | IEC binary | 1,024 |
| MiB | mebibyte | IEC binary | 1,048,576 |
| GiB | gibibyte | IEC binary | 1,073,741,824 |
| TiB | tebibyte | IEC binary | 1,099,511,627,776 |
Bytes, bits and case-sensitive symbols
A byte (B) contains eight bits. This reference covers byte-based storage capacities, not bit counts, bit rates or download times. Symbols are case-sensitive: MB means megabyte; Mb is a bit-based unit and is not accepted here.
The decimal kilobyte’s standard symbol is kB. The input controls accept KB as an alias for kB (1,000 bytes). In the binary result (1,024-based), an unmarked input label “KB” is read as KiB (1,024 bytes); results themselves use the standard symbols shown in the factor table.
Decimal and binary hierarchies
Decimal: B → kB → MB → GB → TB → PB. Each step multiplies the byte factor by 1,000.
Binary: B → KiB → MiB → GiB → TiB. Each step multiplies the byte factor by 1,024. Read the 1000 vs 1024 guide for the naming history.
One formula across standards
target = input × source_byte_factor ÷ target_byte_factor
Example: 1 MiB × 1,048,576 ÷ 1,000,000 = 1.048576 MB. The GB vs GiB guide works through larger cross-standard values.
The explicit MiB to MB converter supports these ten units and nonnegative decimal inputs. Input and exact serialization have a 512-character engineering limit. PiB and larger units, bit units and rates are outside its current range.
Choose the source and target definitions
Explicit IEC input and the worked-example links keep the units’ standard definitions. In those conversions, keep From unchanged and change To to express the same capacity in another unit. Calculation details show the exact byte factors.
The two ordinary results apply their respective bases to both labels and can represent different capacities. For a mixed conversion, try 1024 MiB to decimal GB or 1024 decimal MB to GiB. If the original byte amount is known, choose B as From.
Avoid common unit mix-ups
1 GB = 1,000 MB, while 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB. The converter accepts familiar MB/GB input labels for its binary result (1,024-based) but writes results with MiB/GiB symbols. Some apps use MB/GB labels for those binary quantities. Explicit-unit conversions always follow the selected standard symbols.
Start with the MB to GB converter, or follow an explicit-unit example above for a same-capacity conversion.
Standards and sources
Standard decimal prefixes use powers of 1,000: kB, MB, GB and TB. IEC binary prefixes use powers of 1,024: KiB, MiB, GiB and TiB. Results and formulas use these standard symbols.
The input controls keep familiar KB, MB, GB and TB labels. In the binary result (1,024-based), an unmarked input such as “MB” is read as MiB; some apps display a GiB result as “GB”. That compatibility explanation applies to this result only. In the decimal result (1,000-based), KB is an interface alias for standard kB (1,000 bytes); the unit factors do not change.
“The SI prefixes refer strictly to powers of 10. They should not be used to indicate powers of 2.”