Kilobit to Terabyte Converter
Convert kilobits to terabytes with our free online data storage converter.
Quick Answer
1 Kilobit = 1.250000e-10 terabytes
Formula: Kilobit × conversion factor = Terabyte
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.
Kilobit to Terabyte Calculator
How to Use the Kilobit to Terabyte Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilobit).
- The converted value in Terabyte 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 Kilobit to Terabyte: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Kilobit to Terabyte involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Kilobit = 1.2500e-10 terabytesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 kilobits: 10 × 1.2500e-10 = 1.2500e-9 terabytes
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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View all Data Storage conversions →What is a Kilobit and a Terabyte?
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.
A terabyte (TB) is a multiple of the byte unit for digital information storage. The prefix tera- (symbol T) is defined in the International System of Units (SI) as a multiplier of 1012 (1 trillion, or 1 followed by 12 zeros). Therefore, 1 terabyte = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. This is equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes (GB).
Note: The Kilobit is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Terabyte belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Kilobit and Terabyte
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.
The SI prefix 'tera-' (meaning 1012) was adopted for use in computing as storage capacities reached trillions of bytes. Historically, the term 'terabyte' was often used ambiguously to refer to either 1012 bytes (the strict SI definition) or 240 bytes (1,099,511,627,776 bytes), which is the power of 2 closest to a trillion. This ambiguity, particularly noticeable in how operating systems reported disk sizes versus how manufacturers advertised them, led the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to introduce the distinct binary prefix 'tebi-' (Ti) for 240. Thus, tebibyte (TiB) specifically denotes 240 bytes, while terabyte (TB) formally refers to 1012 bytes.
Common Uses and Applications: kilobits vs terabytes
Explore the typical applications for both Kilobit (imperial/US) and Terabyte (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for 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).
When to Use terabytes
Terabytes are widely used to measure large amounts of digital data storage capacity:
- Specifying the capacity of consumer and enterprise hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs).
- Measuring the size of large files, databases, archives, and backups.
- Quantifying the storage space available in cloud storage plans and data centers.
- Describing the amount of data transferred over networks or used in monthly internet data caps.
- Indicating the capacity of personal computers, laptops, external drives, and network-attached storage (NAS) devices.
Additional Unit Information
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).
About Terabyte (TB)
How many bytes are in a terabyte (TB)?
According to the standard SI definition, there are exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (one trillion bytes, or 1012 bytes) in 1 terabyte (TB).
How many gigabytes (GB) are in a terabyte (TB)?
There are 1,000 gigabytes (GB) in 1 terabyte (TB). This follows the SI prefixes: 1 TB = 1012 bytes and 1 GB = 109 bytes. Therefore, 1 TB / 1 GB = 1012 / 109 = 103 = 1,000.
What is the difference between a terabyte (TB) and a tebibyte (TiB)?
- A terabyte (TB) uses the decimal SI prefix 'tera-' and equals 1012 bytes (1,000,000,000,000 bytes). It's commonly used in storage device marketing.
- A tebibyte (TiB) uses the binary IEC prefix 'tebi-' and equals 240 bytes (1,099,511,627,776 bytes). It's often used by operating systems to report storage capacity based on powers of 2. A tebibyte (TiB) is approximately 9.95% larger than a terabyte (TB) (1 TiB ≈ 1.0995 TB).
What is the difference between a terabyte (TB) and a terabit (Tb)?
- A terabyte (TB) measures data storage capacity in bytes and equals 1012 bytes.
- A terabit (Tb) measures data quantity or data transfer speed in bits and equals 1012 bits. Assuming the standard definition of 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 terabyte (TB) is equal to 8 terabits (Tb). Calculation: 1 TB = 1012 bytes = 1012 * 8 bits = 8 * 1012 bits = 8 Tb. Therefore, a terabyte represents 8 times more data storage capacity than the equivalent number of terabits.
Why is TB often used in marketing instead of TiB?
Storage manufacturers typically market drive capacities using the decimal prefix terabyte (TB) because 1012 bytes yields a larger, rounder number compared to the equivalent value expressed using the binary prefix tebibyte (TiB) (which is 240 bytes). For instance, a hard drive containing exactly 1,000,000,000,000 bytes is advertised as 1 TB. If measured in tebibytes, this same physical capacity would be approximately 0.909 TiB (since 1012 / 240 ≈ 0.909). Using TB allows manufacturers to present higher capacity figures, which is advantageous for marketing, even though operating systems might report the capacity using the smaller TiB value.
Conversion Table: Kilobit to Terabyte
| Kilobit (kb) | Terabyte (TB) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 50 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 250 | 0 |
| 500 | 0 |
| 1,000 | 0 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Kilobit to Terabyte?
To convert Kilobit to Terabyte, enter the value in Kilobit 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 Kilobit to Terabyte?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Kilobit and Terabyte. 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 Terabyte back to Kilobit?
Yes! You can easily convert Terabyte back to Kilobit by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Terabyte to Kilobit converter page. You can also explore other data storage conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Kilobit and Terabyte?
Kilobit and Terabyte 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
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📚 How to Convert Units
Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.
🔢 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) • Kilobit to Bit
- Byte (B) • Kilobit to Byte
- Kilobyte (KB) • Kilobit to Kilobyte
- Megabit (Mb) • Kilobit to Megabit
- Megabyte (MB) • Kilobit to Megabyte
- Gigabit (Gb) • Kilobit to Gigabit
- Gigabyte (GB) • Kilobit to Gigabyte
- Terabit (Tb) • Kilobit to Terabit
- Petabit (Pb) • Kilobit to Petabit
- Petabyte (PB) • Kilobit 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