KB to MB to GB Converter — Digital Storage Size Explained
- 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. 1 MB = 1,024 KB. 1 GB = 1,024 MB. This converter handles all digital storage units from bytes to petabytes.
Table of Contents
1 KB = 1,024 bytes. 1 MB = 1,024 KB. 1 GB = 1,024 MB. Select the Data tab in the converter above to convert between any digital storage units — bytes, KB, MB, GB, TB, and PB.
File sizes, storage capacity, internet speeds, and email attachments all use these units. Understanding how they relate helps you manage storage, plan backups, and estimate download times.
Digital Storage Unit Reference
| Unit | Abbreviation | Equals | In Bytes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Byte | B | 8 bits | 1 |
| Kilobyte | KB | 1,024 bytes | 1,024 |
| Megabyte | MB | 1,024 KB | 1,048,576 |
| Gigabyte | GB | 1,024 MB | 1,073,741,824 |
| Terabyte | TB | 1,024 GB | 1,099,511,627,776 |
| Petabyte | PB | 1,024 TB | 1,125,899,906,842,624 |
What Fits in Each Storage Unit
- 1 KB: a short text file or a small icon image
- 1 MB: a short MP3 clip, a medium-quality photo, or a short document with images
- 1 GB: about 200 photos, 1 hour of standard video, or 200 songs
- 1 TB: about 250,000 photos, 500 hours of HD video, or a full laptop's worth of data
- 1 PB: enough to store all US academic research output for several years
Why 1024 Instead of 1000?
Computers work in binary (base-2), so storage is measured in powers of 2. 2^10 = 1,024 — close to 1,000 but not exactly. Drive manufacturers often use 1,000 instead of 1,024 to advertise larger-seeming capacities. A "500 GB" hard drive from a manufacturer that uses the decimal definition actually holds about 465 GiB (gibibytes) in binary terms.
The converter uses the binary definition (1 KB = 1,024 bytes) which is the standard in computing contexts like operating systems and file systems.
Common File Size Conversions
Quickly converting between units:
- 2,048 KB = 2 MB
- 512 MB = 0.5 GB
- 1,500 MB = 1.46 GB
- 2,000 GB = 1.95 TB ≈ 2 TB
For email attachments: most email services cap attachments at 10–25 MB. A 5 MB file is 5,120 KB. A 20 MB limit means about four 5 MB photos.
Convert Data Storage Units Free
Bytes to petabytes — all digital storage conversions in one free tool, no signup.
Open Unit Converter FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How many KB in a MB?
1 megabyte = 1,024 kilobytes using the binary definition standard in computing.
How many MB in a GB?
1 gigabyte = 1,024 megabytes in binary. Hard drive manufacturers sometimes use 1,000 MB = 1 GB (decimal), which is why formatted drive capacity appears smaller.
How do I convert MB to GB?
Divide megabytes by 1,024. Example: 2,048 MB / 1,024 = 2 GB. Use the Data tab in the converter for any data size conversion.
What is 100 MB in GB?
100 MB = 0.09766 GB — just under one-tenth of a gigabyte.
