Megabytes Converter
Convert MB to KB, GB to MB, and All Data Storage Units Instantly
Published: November 15, 2025 | Updated: November 15, 2025
Published by: RevisionTown Team
Understanding data storage units is essential in today's digital world. Whether you're managing computer files, calculating download speeds, choosing storage devices, or working with data sizes, this megabytes converter provides instant, accurate conversions between bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), terabytes (TB), and petabytes (PB).
This tool uses the standard binary system (base-2) where 1 KB = 1024 bytes, which is the convention used by operating systems, memory chips, and most computing applications.
Data Storage Converter
Result:
All Unit Conversions:
Data Storage Conversion Formulas
Binary System (Base-2) - Standard Computing
Used by operating systems, RAM, and most computer applications:
1 KB = 1024 Bytes (210)
1 MB = 1024 KB = 1,048,576 Bytes (220)
1 GB = 1024 MB = 1,073,741,824 Bytes (230)
1 TB = 1024 GB = 1,099,511,627,776 Bytes (240)
MB to KB Conversion
Convert megabytes to kilobytes:
Example: 5 MB = 5 × 1024 = 5,120 KB
Example: 2 MB = 2 × 1024 = 2,048 KB
KB to MB Conversion
Convert kilobytes to megabytes:
Example: 5120 KB = 5120 ÷ 1024 = 5 MB
Example: 1024 KB = 1024 ÷ 1024 = 1 MB
GB to MB Conversion
Convert gigabytes to megabytes:
Example: 2 GB = 2 × 1024 = 2,048 MB
Example: 1 TB = 1 × 1024 × 1024 = 1,048,576 MB
MB to GB Conversion
Convert megabytes to gigabytes:
Example: 2048 MB = 2048 ÷ 1024 = 2 GB
Example: 500 MB = 500 ÷ 1024 = 0.488 GB
Quick Conversion Reference Table
| MB | KB | GB | Bytes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 MB | 1,024 KB | 0.001 GB | 1,048,576 Bytes |
| 2 MB | 2,048 KB | 0.002 GB | 2,097,152 Bytes |
| 5 MB | 5,120 KB | 0.005 GB | 5,242,880 Bytes |
| 10 MB | 10,240 KB | 0.01 GB | 10,485,760 Bytes |
| 25 MB | 25,600 KB | 0.024 GB | 26,214,400 Bytes |
| 100 MB | 102,400 KB | 0.098 GB | 104,857,600 Bytes |
| 500 MB | 512,000 KB | 0.488 GB | 524,288,000 Bytes |
| 1024 MB | 1,048,576 KB | 1 GB | 1,073,741,824 Bytes |
Common Data Size Conversions
1 MB to KB
1 MB = 1,024 KB
2 MB to KB
2 MB = 2,048 KB
5 MB to KB
5 MB = 5,120 KB
1 GB to MB
1 GB = 1,024 MB
2 GB to MB
2 GB = 2,048 MB
1 TB to MB
1 TB = 1,048,576 MB
2 TB to MB
2 TB = 2,097,152 MB
16 MB to KB
16 MB = 16,384 KB
Understanding Data Storage Units
Byte (B)
The fundamental unit of digital information. 1 byte = 8 bits. Can store a single character (like 'A' or '5').
Kilobyte (KB)
1 KB = 1,024 bytes. Typical size for small text files, icons, or simple images. Example: A plain text email is about 2-10 KB.
Megabyte (MB)
1 MB = 1,024 KB = 1,048,576 bytes. Used for photos, MP3 songs, small videos. Example: A high-quality photo is 2-5 MB, a 3-minute MP3 song is about 3-4 MB.
Gigabyte (GB)
1 GB = 1,024 MB. Standard for RAM, USB drives, and SD cards. Example: A 2-hour HD movie is about 3-5 GB, smartphone storage is typically 64-512 GB.
Terabyte (TB)
1 TB = 1,024 GB = 1,048,576 MB. Used for hard drives and data centers. Example: Modern hard drives are 1-16 TB, can store about 200,000 high-quality photos.
Petabyte (PB)
1 PB = 1,024 TB. Enterprise-level storage for massive databases, cloud services, and data centers. Example: Large companies like Google process petabytes of data daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many KB in 1 MB?
1 MB (megabyte) equals 1024 KB (kilobytes) in binary system used by computers. In decimal system, 1 MB = 1000 KB. Most operating systems and file managers use the binary system (1024).
How do you convert MB to KB?
To convert megabytes to kilobytes, multiply the MB value by 1024. Formula: KB = MB × 1024. For example, 5 MB = 5 × 1024 = 5120 KB. This uses the binary system standard in computing.
How many MB in 1 GB?
1 GB (gigabyte) equals 1024 MB (megabytes) in binary system. In decimal, 1 GB = 1000 MB. Computer memory and storage typically use binary (1024), while hard drive manufacturers often use decimal (1000).
What is the difference between MB and Mb?
MB (uppercase B) stands for megabyte (data storage), while Mb (lowercase b) stands for megabit (data transfer rate). 1 byte = 8 bits, so 1 MB = 8 Mb. Internet speeds use megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes use megabytes (MB).
Why is 1 KB equal to 1024 bytes and not 1000?
Computers use binary (base-2) system. 1024 = 2^10, which is the nearest power of 2 to 1000. This binary convention (1024) is called a kibibyte (KiB), while 1000 bytes is technically a kilobyte (KB) in decimal. However, KB commonly refers to 1024 bytes in computing.
How do you convert GB to MB?
To convert gigabytes to megabytes, multiply the GB value by 1024. Formula: MB = GB × 1024. For example, 2 GB = 2 × 1024 = 2048 MB. For decimal conversion, multiply by 1000 instead.
How many bytes in 1 MB?
1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes (binary system). This is calculated as 1024 × 1024 = 1,048,576. In decimal system, 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes.
Why do hard drives show less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal (1000) system, while operating systems use binary (1024). A "1 TB" drive has 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, but your OS calculates 1,000,000,000,000 ÷ 1024³ ≈ 931 GB. This explains the "missing" storage.
Real-World File Sizes
Plain text: 2-10 KB
With attachments: 1-25 MB
HTML email: 50-100 KB
📷 Photos
Smartphone photo: 2-5 MB
DSLR RAW: 20-50 MB
Compressed JPEG: 500 KB-2 MB
🎵 Music
MP3 (3 min): 3-4 MB
FLAC lossless: 20-30 MB
Streaming (1 hour): 50-150 MB
🎬 Videos
HD movie (2 hours): 3-5 GB
4K movie: 40-100 GB
YouTube (1080p, 10 min): 150-300 MB
📄 Documents
Word doc: 50-500 KB
PDF ebook: 1-10 MB
PowerPoint: 5-50 MB
🎮 Games
Mobile game: 50-500 MB
PC game: 20-100 GB
AAA title: 50-200 GB
Practical Tips for Managing Data Storage
1. Choose the Right Storage Device
USB drives: 16-256 GB for portable files. External HDD: 1-16 TB for backups. SSD: 256 GB-2 TB for speed. Cloud storage: Unlimited for accessibility.
2. Compress Large Files
Use ZIP or RAR compression to reduce file sizes by 20-90%. Videos and images can be compressed with specialized tools to save storage space and transfer time.
3. Understand File Transfer Times
USB 2.0: ~35 MB/s. USB 3.0: ~100-200 MB/s. USB 3.1: ~500-1000 MB/s. Wi-Fi: 5-50 MB/s. Ethernet: 12-125 MB/s.
4. Monitor Storage Space
Keep at least 10-15% free space on drives for optimal performance. Full drives slow down significantly and can corrupt data.
5. Calculate Before Purchasing
Use this converter to determine storage needs. Photos (5 MB each): 200 photos = 1 GB. Movies (4 GB each): 250 movies = 1 TB.
Master Data Storage Conversions
Understanding data storage units and conversions is essential for making informed decisions about storage devices, managing files efficiently, calculating download times, and working with digital media. This megabytes converter provides instant, accurate conversions using the standard binary system (base-2) that computers use.
Whether you're converting MB to KB for file compression, GB to MB for storage planning, or bytes to megabytes for programming, this tool ensures accuracy using the industry-standard conversion factors. Remember that 1 KB = 1024 bytes (not 1000) in computing, and always account for the binary vs. decimal difference when comparing advertised storage capacities with actual available space.

