Decimal vs. binary
Storage manufacturers (hard drives, SSDs, flash drives) usually advertise capacity in the decimal base, where 1 KB = 1,000 bytes, following the International System of Units. Operating systems, on the other hand, typically calculate and display space in the binary base, where 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes, since computers naturally work in powers of 2. That's why a "500 GB SSD" shows up as roughly 465 GiB of space in your system — no data disappears, it's just a different counting base.
How to use it
Type the value, choose the source unit, and select the base you want to use for the calculation. The table shows the converted value for every unit, from Byte to Petabyte, in the chosen base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the decimal (1000) and binary (1024) base?
In the decimal base, used by the International System of Units, 1 KB equals 1,000 bytes, 1 MB equals 1,000 KB, and so on — it's how storage manufacturers usually advertise capacity. In the binary base, used by operating systems, 1 KiB equals 1,024 bytes, 1 MiB equals 1,024 KiB, and so on, since computers naturally work in powers of 2.
Why does my 1 TB drive show less space in the operating system?
Because the manufacturer advertises capacity in decimal base (1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes), while the operating system typically displays the value in binary base (dividing by 1,024 at each level). That makes a decimal 1 TB drive show up as roughly 931 GiB in the system — no space actually disappears, it's just a different counting base.
Are the values I type sent to a server?
No. All conversion happens locally in your browser, without sending any value off your device.
Which units does the tool convert?
From Byte to Petabyte: Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte, and Petabyte, in either base.
