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MB to KB Converter | Megabytes to Gigabytes Data Storage Calculator

Free megabytes converter. Instantly convert MB to KB, GB to MB, bytes to megabytes and all data storage units. Fast, accurate conversions with formulas and conversion tables.
Megabytes converter

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

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:

KB = MB × 1024

Example: 5 MB = 5 × 1024 = 5,120 KB

Example: 2 MB = 2 × 1024 = 2,048 KB

KB to MB Conversion

Convert kilobytes to megabytes:

MB = KB ÷ 1024

Example: 5120 KB = 5120 ÷ 1024 = 5 MB

Example: 1024 KB = 1024 ÷ 1024 = 1 MB

GB to MB Conversion

Convert gigabytes to megabytes:

MB = GB × 1024

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:

GB = MB ÷ 1024

Example: 2048 MB = 2048 ÷ 1024 = 2 GB

Example: 500 MB = 500 ÷ 1024 = 0.488 GB

Quick Conversion Reference Table

MBKBGBBytes
1 MB1,024 KB0.001 GB1,048,576 Bytes
2 MB2,048 KB0.002 GB2,097,152 Bytes
5 MB5,120 KB0.005 GB5,242,880 Bytes
10 MB10,240 KB0.01 GB10,485,760 Bytes
25 MB25,600 KB0.024 GB26,214,400 Bytes
100 MB102,400 KB0.098 GB104,857,600 Bytes
500 MB512,000 KB0.488 GB524,288,000 Bytes
1024 MB1,048,576 KB1 GB1,073,741,824 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

📧 Email

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.

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