Understanding File Size Units
| Unit | In Bytes | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 KB | 1,024 B | Text documents, icons |
| 1 MB | 1,048,576 B | MP3 music, high-res photos |
| 1 GB | 1,073,741,824 B | Movies, game installations |
| 1 TB | 1,099,511,627,776 B | Large backups, NAS storage |
| 1 PB | 1,125,899,906,842,624 B | Data centers, cloud storage |
* Computers use binary system where 1KB = 1,024B. (Hard drive manufacturers often use 1,000-based calculation)
FAQ
Q. How many MB is 1GB?
1GB equals 1,024MB. Computers use binary (base-2), so calculations are based on 1,024 (2^10) rather than 1,000.
Q. How many GB is 1TB?
1TB equals 1,024GB. Terabytes are commonly used for large hard drives and cloud storage.
Q. Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers calculate 1GB = 1,000MB, while operating systems (Windows) use 1GB = 1,024MB. This difference causes the displayed capacity to appear smaller.
Q. What's the difference between KB and KiB?
KB (kilobyte) is 1,000 bytes, while KiB (kibibyte) is 1,024 bytes. This tool uses the 1,024-based calculation commonly used in computing.