Byte Converter
Convert between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and IEC binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB). Supports both SI (1000) and IEC (1024) standards.
Reviewed October 7, 2026 Runs in your browser — inputs are never stored
This tool provides general unit conversions for everyday and educational use. For regulated, legal, or scientific applications, verify conversion factors against the applicable official standard.
About the Byte Converter
The byte converter switches between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes and petabytes in both the decimal SI system (1 KB = 1,000 B) used by storage manufacturers and the binary IEC system (1 KiB = 1,024 B) used by operating systems. The difference explains why drives appear smaller once connected to a computer.
How to use it
- 1Type the value you want to convert.
- 2Choose the unit you are converting from and the unit you want (for example GB to GiB).
- 3The result updates as you type; use the swap button to reverse the direction.
- 4Copy or share the result with the buttons below it.
Worked example
a “1 TB” drive holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which is about 931 GiB — the figure most computers display.
How it works
SI vs IEC
SI: 1 KB = 1,000 B · 1 MB = 1,000,000 B (used by hard drive manufacturers). IEC: 1 KiB = 1,024 B · 1 MiB = 1,048,576 B (used by operating systems).
Common use cases
- Understanding advertised versus reported drive sizes
- Estimating storage and backup needs
- Programming and data work
Frequently asked questions
A:Hard drives use SI 1 TB = 10¹² bytes, but Windows shows in GiB (1 GiB = 2³⁰ bytes), so 1 TB ≈ 931 GiB.
A:A kibibyte (KiB) = 1,024 bytes exactly. The IEC prefix "kibi" means "binary kilo." It avoids ambiguity with the SI kilobyte (1,000 bytes).
Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated October 7, 2026
Conversion factors are based on internationally defined SI units and standard metric/imperial equivalence tables.
CalcWisee Editorial Team
Calculator development and formula review
CalcWisee is an independent site founded by Ayman. Every calculator is built from a published formula or official definition, tested against hand-worked examples before it goes live, and corrected promptly when a reader reports an issue to ayman@calcwisee.com.
Expertise: Financial mathematics, Health and fitness formulas, Applied mathematics, Unit conversion standards
References & sources
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