Gibibyte to Megabyte Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert gibibytes to megabytes with our free online data storage converter.
Gibibyte to Megabyte Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gibibyte).
- The converted value in Megabyte will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Data Storage category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Gibibyte to Megabyte
Converting Gibibyte to Megabyte involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Gibibyte = 1073.74 megabytesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 gibibytes: 10 × 1073.74 = 1.0737e+4 megabytes
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Gibibyte and a Megabyte?
A gibibyte (GiB) is a unit of digital information storage equal to 230 bytes, which is exactly 1,073,741,824 bytes (or 10243 bytes). It uses the binary prefix 'gibi-' established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
A megabyte (MB) is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The International System of Units (SI) defines the prefix mega- (M) as 1,000,000 (106). Therefore, one megabyte is exactly 1,000,000 bytes (or 1000 kilobytes).
Similar to the kilobyte, the term "megabyte" has historically been used ambiguously in computing to represent 1,048,576 (220 or 10242) bytes. This binary usage correctly refers to a mebibyte (MiB), a unit defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to eliminate confusion.
Note: The Gibibyte is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Megabyte belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Gibibyte and Megabyte
The prefix 'gibi-' (representing 230) was defined by the IEC in 1998 alongside other binary prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, tebi-, etc.). This standardization aimed to eliminate the confusion caused by using SI prefixes (like giga-) to denote both powers of 1000 (decimal, e.g., gigabyte, GB) and powers of 1024 (binary) which were common in computing. The term 'gibibyte' specifically refers to the 230 multiple of bytes.
The prefix 'mega-' (meaning million) was adopted as an SI prefix in 1960. As computer storage capacities grew beyond kilobytes in the 1970s and 1980s, megabyte became a common unit. However, because computer memory and architecture are often based on powers of two, 1024 * 1024 = 1,048,576 bytes became a convenient measure. This led to the widespread but conflicting use of "megabyte" for both 1,000,000 bytes (decimal) and 1,048,576 bytes (binary).
To address this ambiguity, the IEC introduced the binary prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, gibi-, etc.) in 1998. This standard designated MiB (mebibyte) specifically for 220 bytes and reaffirmed MB (megabyte) strictly for 106 bytes. Despite the standard, the dual usage persists, especially in marketing (using MB for 106) versus operating system reporting (often using MB ambiguously for 220, though sometimes correctly using MiB).
Common Uses for gibibytes and megabytes
Explore the typical applications for both Gibibyte (imperial/US) and Megabyte (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for gibibytes
Gibibytes are frequently used in contexts where binary precision is important:
- Measuring Random Access Memory (RAM) capacity accurately.
- Reporting file sizes and disk space by operating systems like Windows and some Linux distributions.
- Allocating memory and storage resources in software development and virtualization.
- Technical specifications for hardware and software requiring precise binary measurements.
Common Uses for megabytes
The megabyte (MB), representing 1,000,000 bytes, is commonly used for:
- Measuring the size of medium-sized files (e.g., high-resolution images, MP3 audio files, short video clips, documents with embedded images).
- Quantifying the capacity of older storage media like floppy disks and CDs.
- Specifying the size of software downloads or application components.
- Used by storage device manufacturers (hard drives, SSDs, USB drives) to define capacity based on the decimal system (106 bytes).
- Measuring data transfer rates in megabytes per second (MB/s or MBps).
The informal use representing 1,048,576 bytes (correctly MiB) appeared frequently in:
- Quantifying computer RAM capacity (though MiB is the precise term).
- Reporting file sizes or disk space by many operating systems and software, leading to discrepancies with advertised storage capacities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Gibibyte (GiB)
How many bytes are in a gibibyte?
There are exactly 230 bytes in 1 gibibyte (GiB). This equals 1,073,741,824 bytes.
How many mebibytes (MiB) are in a gibibyte (GiB)?
There are 1,024 mebibytes (MiB) in 1 gibibyte (GiB). This is because 1 GiB = 230 bytes and 1 MiB = 220 bytes, and 230 / 220 = 210 = 1,024.
What is the difference between a gibibyte (GiB) and a gigabyte (GB)?
A gibibyte (GiB) represents 230 bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes), using the IEC binary prefix 'gibi-'. A gigabyte (GB) typically represents 109 bytes (1,000,000,000 bytes), using the SI decimal prefix 'giga-'. A gibibyte is approximately 7.37% larger than a gigabyte (1 GiB ≈ 1.074 GB). Use GiB for precision in binary contexts (like RAM, OS reporting) and GB for decimal contexts (like hard drive marketing, network speeds) or when the specific definition is clarified.
About Megabyte (MB)
How many bytes are in a megabyte (MB)?
According to the official SI standard, 1 megabyte (MB) = 1,000,000 bytes (106 bytes). However, in some computing contexts, particularly older ones or relating to RAM, "megabyte" was informally used to mean 1,048,576 bytes (220 bytes). The correct term for 1,048,576 bytes is 1 mebibyte (MiB). Context is key if the specific symbol (MB vs. MiB) isn't used.
How many kilobytes (KB) are in a megabyte (MB)?
Based on the SI standard, 1 megabyte (MB) = 1000 kilobytes (KB) (since 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes and 1 KB = 1000 bytes). If using the binary interpretation (which should correctly use MiB and KiB), then 1 mebibyte (MiB) = 1024 kibibytes (KiB) (since 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes and 1 KiB = 1024 bytes).
What is the difference between a megabyte (MB) and a mebibyte (MiB)?
- MB (megabyte): Based on the decimal prefix 'mega-', meaning 1,000,000 bytes (106 bytes). This is the SI standard.
- MiB (mebibyte): Based on the binary prefix 'mebi-', meaning 1,048,576 bytes (220 bytes). This is the IEC standard for binary multiples.
A mebibyte (MiB) is approximately 4.86% larger than a megabyte (MB) (1 MiB ≈ 1.0486 MB). Using MiB when referring to 1,048,576 bytes avoids ambiguity, especially in contexts like RAM measurement or OS file size reporting.
What is the difference between a megabyte (MB) and a megabit (Mb)?
- A megabyte (MB) measures data storage in bytes. 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes (SI standard).
- A megabit (Mb) measures data storage or transfer speed in bits. 1 Mb = 1,000,000 bits (SI standard).
Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 megabyte (MB) is equal to 8 megabits (Mb). File sizes are typically measured in MB, while internet speeds are often measured in Mbps (megabits per second).
Conversion Table: Gibibyte to Megabyte
| Gibibyte (GiB) | Megabyte (MB) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,073.742 |
| 5 | 5,368.709 |
| 10 | 10,737.418 |
| 25 | 26,843.546 |
| 50 | 53,687.091 |
| 100 | 107,374.182 |
| 500 | 536,870.912 |
| 1,000 | 1,073,741.824 |