Gigabit to Kilobit Converter
Convert gigabits to kilobits with our free online data storage converter.
Quick Answer
1 Gigabit = 1000000 kilobits
Formula: Gigabit × conversion factor = Kilobit
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Gigabit to Kilobit Calculator
How to Use the Gigabit to Kilobit Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gigabit).
- The converted value in Kilobit 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 Gigabit to Kilobit: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Gigabit to Kilobit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Gigabit = 1000000 kilobitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 gigabits: 10 × 1000000 = 10000000 kilobits
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.
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Need to convert to other data storage units?
View all Data Storage conversions →What is a Gigabit and a Kilobit?
A gigabit (Gb) is a unit of digital information equal to 109 bits, or 1,000,000,000 bits. It uses the standard SI decimal prefix 'giga-'. It is commonly used to measure data transfer rates.
A kilobit (kb or kbit) is a multiple of the bit unit for digital information or computer storage. The prefix kilo- (symbol k) is defined in the International System of Units (SI) as a multiplier of 103 (1 thousand). Therefore, 1 kilobit = 1000 bits.
Note: The Gigabit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Kilobit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Gigabit and Kilobit
The prefix 'giga-' originates from the Greek word "gigas," meaning "giant," and was adopted as an SI prefix in 1960 to denote a factor of 109 (one billion). In computing and telecommunications, the gigabit became prominent with the rise of high-speed networking technologies like Gigabit Ethernet in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While 'giga-' strictly means 109, its usage sometimes caused confusion with binary multiples (230), leading to the creation of the IEC binary prefix 'gibi-' (Gib).
The use of the "kilo" prefix for bits emerged alongside its use for bytes as computer systems grew. While "kilobyte" was often ambiguously used for 1024 bytes (correctly kibibyte), the term "kilobit" (especially in data transmission contexts) more consistently adhered to the SI standard definition of 1000 bits. The introduction of binary prefixes like 'kibi-' (for kibibit, Kib) aimed to resolve such ambiguities.
Common Uses and Applications: gigabits vs kilobits
Explore the typical applications for both Gigabit (imperial/US) and Kilobit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for gigabits
- Measuring data transfer rates, especially network speeds (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet at 1 Gbps, internet connection speeds).
- Specifying the bandwidth of communication channels.
- Sometimes used in the context of memory chip density or storage capacity, although Gigabyte (GB) is far more common for storage.
- Calculating download/upload times based on file size (in GB or GiB) and network speed (in Gbps).
When to Use kilobits
Kilobits are frequently used in specific contexts:
- Measuring data transfer rates (e.g., internet connection speeds in kbps - kilobits per second, or Mbps - megabits per second).
- Quantifying the capacity of certain types of serial communication channels.
- Specifying audio or video streaming bitrates (e.g., a 128 kbps MP3 audio file).
Additional Unit Information
About Gigabit (Gb)
How many bits are in a gigabit?
There are exactly 1,000,000,000 (one billion or 109) bits in 1 gigabit (Gb).
What is the difference between a gigabit (Gb) and a gigabyte (GB)?
A gigabit (Gb) measures data in bits, while a gigabyte (GB) measures data in bytes. Assuming the standard 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 gigabyte (GB) is equal to 8 gigabits (Gb). Network speeds are usually in Gbps (gigabits per second), while file sizes are usually in GB (gigabytes).
What is the difference between a gigabit (Gb) and a gibibit (Gib)?
A gigabit (Gb) uses the decimal prefix 'giga-' and equals 109 (1,000,000,000) bits. A gibibit (Gib) uses the binary prefix 'gibi-' and equals 230 (1,073,741,824) bits. A gibibit is approximately 7.37% larger than a gigabit.
Is Gbps the same as GBps?
No. Gbps stands for gigabits per second, while GBps stands for gigabytes per second. Since 1 byte = 8 bits, a transfer rate of 1 GBps is eight times faster than a transfer rate of 1 Gbps. Network speeds are almost always advertised in Gbps.
About Kilobit (kb)
How many bits are in a kilobit (kb)?
There are exactly 1000 bits in 1 kilobit (kb), based on the standard SI definition of the prefix 'kilo-'.
What is the difference between a kilobit (kb) and a kilobyte (KB)?
They measure different aspects of data, though both use the 'kilo-' prefix:
- A kilobit (kb) measures bits and equals 1000 bits. It's often used for data transfer rates.
- A kilobyte (KB) measures bytes and, according to SI standards, equals 1000 bytes. It's often used for file sizes and storage capacity. (Note: Historically, KB was sometimes used informally for 1024 bytes, which is correctly termed a kibibyte (KiB)).
Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 kilobyte (1000 bytes) is equal to 8000 bits. Therefore, a kilobyte represents 8 times more data than a kilobit.
What is the difference between a kilobit (kb) and a kibibit (Kib)?
- A kilobit (kb) uses the decimal SI prefix 'kilo-' and equals 103 bits (1,000 bits).
- A kibibit (Kib) uses the binary IEC prefix 'kibi-' and equals 210 bits (1,024 bits).
A kibibit is 2.4% larger than a kilobit (1 Kib = 1.024 kb). Using Kib provides clarity when specifically referring to 1,024 bits, distinguishing it from the standard kilobit (1000 bits).
Why are internet speeds measured in kilobits (kbps) or megabits (Mbps)?
Data transmission over networks and communication lines often happens serially, meaning one bit is sent after another. Measuring the speed in bits per second (kbps, Mbps, Gbps) provides a direct count of how many of these individual bits can be transferred over the line in one second. Storage capacity (like hard drives or file sizes) is usually measured in bytes (KB, MB, GB) because data is typically organized and accessed in groups of 8 bits (bytes).
Conversion Table: Gigabit to Kilobit
| Gigabit (Gb) | Kilobit (kb) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 1 | 1,000,000 |
| 1.5 | 1,500,000 |
| 2 | 2,000,000 |
| 5 | 5,000,000 |
| 10 | 10,000,000 |
| 25 | 25,000,000 |
| 50 | 50,000,000 |
| 100 | 100,000,000 |
| 250 | 250,000,000 |
| 500 | 500,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Gigabit to Kilobit?
To convert Gigabit to Kilobit, enter the value in Gigabit in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our data storage converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Gigabit to Kilobit?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Gigabit and Kilobit. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Kilobit back to Gigabit?
Yes! You can easily convert Kilobit back to Gigabit by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Kilobit to Gigabit converter page. You can also explore other data storage conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Gigabit and Kilobit?
Gigabit and Kilobit are both standard units used in data storage measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our data storage converter for more conversion options.
For more data storage conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
📚 How to Convert Units
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🔢 Conversion Formulas
Essential formulas for data storage and other conversions.
⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
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⚠️ Common Mistakes
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All Data Storage Conversions
Other Data Storage Units and Conversions
Explore other data storage units and their conversion options:
- Bit (b) • Gigabit to Bit
- Byte (B) • Gigabit to Byte
- Kilobyte (KB) • Gigabit to Kilobyte
- Megabit (Mb) • Gigabit to Megabit
- Megabyte (MB) • Gigabit to Megabyte
- Gigabyte (GB) • Gigabit to Gigabyte
- Terabit (Tb) • Gigabit to Terabit
- Terabyte (TB) • Gigabit to Terabyte
- Petabit (Pb) • Gigabit to Petabit
- Petabyte (PB) • Gigabit to Petabyte
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
International Electrotechnical Commission — Binary prefixes for digital storage (KiB, MiB, GiB)
International Organization for Standardization — International standards for quantities and units
Last verified: December 3, 2025