MB to GB Converter
Convert data storage sizes between Megabytes (MB) and Gigabytes (GB)
Digital storage is measured in bytes and its multiples:
- MB (Megabyte): A unit of digital information equal to 1,048,576 bytes (1,024 kilobytes). Common for smaller files like documents and images.
- GB (Gigabyte): A unit of digital information equal to 1,024 megabytes. Common for larger files, software, and storage devices.
Understanding these units is essential for managing digital storage and planning storage requirements.
The formula to convert between MB and GB is:
- MB to GB: Divide the MB value by 1,024
GB = MB ÷ 1,024 - GB to MB: Multiply the GB value by 1,024
MB = GB × 1,024
Note: This uses the binary prefix (1,024) as commonly used in computing, rather than the decimal prefix (1,000).
This converter is particularly useful for:
- Understanding file sizes
- Planning storage requirements
- Comparing storage devices
- Managing cloud storage quotas
- Calculating backup space needs
Why is 1 GB equal to 1,024 MB instead of 1,000 MB?
Computers use binary (base-2) counting, where 2¹⁰ = 1,024. This is why digital storage uses 1,024 as the conversion factor instead of 1,000, which is used in the decimal system.
What's the difference between MB and MiB?
MB (Megabyte) traditionally uses the binary prefix (1,024), while MiB (Mebibyte) was introduced to explicitly represent the binary version. In practice, MB is still commonly used to mean 1,024 KB in computing contexts.
Why does my hard drive show less space than advertised?
Hard drive manufacturers use decimal prefixes (1,000) while operating systems use binary prefixes (1,024). This difference, combined with space used by formatting and system files, results in less usable space than the advertised capacity.