Bytes → KB → MB → GB → TB Converter
Convert between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes instantly. Uses decimal units (1 KB = 1,000 bytes) as used by storage manufacturers and operating systems for drive capacity.
Last updated: June 2026
Quick reference: storage unit sizes
| Unit | Symbol | Bytes (decimal) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilobyte | KB | 1,000 | Small text files, emails |
| Megabyte | MB | 1,000,000 | Photos, short audio clips |
| Gigabyte | GB | 1,000,000,000 | HD video, app installs, USB drives |
| Terabyte | TB | 1,000,000,000,000 | Hard drives, backups, NAS storage |
Common file size examples
| File type | Typical size | In MB |
|---|---|---|
| Plain text document (1 page) | ~5 KB | 0.005 MB |
| JPEG photo (smartphone) | 3-8 MB | 3-8 MB |
| MP3 audio (3 min song) | ~3.5 MB | 3.5 MB |
| PDF document (10 pages) | ~500 KB | 0.5 MB |
| HD video (1 min, 1080p) | ~150 MB | 150 MB |
| 4K video (1 min) | ~375 MB | 375 MB |
| Typical smartphone app | 50-200 MB | 50-200 MB |
| PC game install | 20-100 GB | 20,000-100,000 MB |
Decimal vs binary units
Storage manufacturers use decimal units (1 KB = 1,000 bytes) when advertising drive capacity. Operating systems such as Windows historically used binary units (1 KiB = 1,024 bytes) when reporting file sizes, which is why a "500 GB" hard drive appears as roughly 465 GB in Windows Explorer. This converter uses decimal units throughout, matching the labelling you see on packaging and product listings.
The binary equivalents are: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes, 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes, and 1 TiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes.
How long does a download take, and how much data do apps use?
Internet speeds are quoted in megabits per second (Mbps), but file sizes are in megabytes (MB), and the two differ by a factor of 8 because one byte is 8 bits. To estimate a download time at full line speed, multiply the file size in MB by 8 to get megabits, then divide by your connection speed in Mbps. A 5 GB game (5,000 MB) on a 100 Mbps connection works out to 5,000 × 8 ÷ 100 = 400 seconds, or about 6.7 minutes. Real downloads run a little slower than this because of protocol overhead and shared bandwidth, so treat it as a best case using decimal GB.
Knowing how much data common activities use helps you size a mobile plan or a download cap. The table below lists rough hourly figures at default quality settings.
| Activity | Approximate data per hour |
|---|---|
| Music streaming (high quality) | ~145 MB |
| Standard-definition video | ~0.7 GB |
| HD (1080p) video streaming | ~3 GB |
| 4K (Ultra HD) video streaming | ~7 GB |
| Video call (1080p) | ~1.5 GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MB is 1 GB?
1 GB = 1,000 MB (decimal). In binary, 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB.
How many bytes is 1 KB?
1 KB = 1,000 bytes (decimal standard used by storage manufacturers).
Why does my 1 TB drive show less than 1 TB in Windows?
Windows reports sizes in binary (GiB), while manufacturers label drives in decimal (GB). 1 TB (decimal) = approximately 931 GiB (binary), which is what Windows displays.
What is the difference between Mbps and MB?
Mbps (megabits per second) is a data transfer rate. MB (megabyte) is a storage size. 1 MB = 8 Mbps worth of data transferred in one second.
How long does it take to download a 1 GB file?
At full line speed, a 1 GB file (8,000 megabits) takes about 80 seconds on a 100 Mbps connection, around 27 seconds on 300 Mbps, and roughly 8 seconds on a 1 Gbps fiber line. Divide 8,000 by your speed in Mbps to get the time in seconds. Actual downloads are usually a little slower due to overhead.
How much data does an hour of streaming use?
Roughly 3 GB per hour for 1080p HD video and about 7 GB per hour for 4K, while standard definition is closer to 0.7 GB. Music streaming at high quality uses about 145 MB per hour. These figures help you judge how quickly a monthly data cap of, say, 50 GB will run down.
How big are typical photo and video files?
A smartphone JPEG photo is typically 3 to 8 MB depending on resolution and compression. A RAW photo from a mirrorless camera can be 20 to 50 MB per shot. Video files are much larger: Full HD (1080p) footage from a phone runs roughly 130 to 400 MB per minute; 4K footage is 300 MB to 1 GB per minute. A 10-minute 4K clip can easily fill 3 to 6 GB before editing.
How many songs fit in 1 GB of storage?
It depends on audio quality. A 3-minute song at standard MP3 quality (128 kbps) is about 3 MB, so roughly 330 songs per GB. At higher quality (320 kbps) each file is about 7 MB, around 140 songs per GB. Lossless audio (FLAC or ALAC) uses 20 to 40 MB per track, giving 25 to 50 songs per GB. Streaming services cache data differently and typically do not count against local storage.