Mebibyte to Gibibyte Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert mebibytes to gibibytes with our free online data storage converter.
Mebibyte to Gibibyte Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mebibyte).
- The converted value in Gibibyte 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 Mebibyte to Gibibyte
Converting Mebibyte to Gibibyte involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Mebibyte = 0.000976563 gibibytesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 mebibytes: 10 × 0.000976563 = 0.00976563 gibibytes
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 Mebibyte and a Gibibyte?
A mebibyte (MiB) is a unit of digital information storage equal to 220 bytes, which is exactly 1,048,576 bytes (or 10242 bytes). It uses the binary prefix 'mebi-' established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The mebibyte was created to provide an unambiguous measurement for byte multiples based on powers of 2, distinguishing it from the megabyte (MB), which is based on the decimal prefix 'mega-' (106 or 1,000,000 bytes).
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).
Note: The Mebibyte is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Gibibyte belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Mebibyte and Gibibyte
The prefix 'mebi-' (representing 220) was defined by the IEC in 1998 alongside other binary prefixes (kibi-, gibi-, tebi-, etc.). Before this standard, the SI prefix 'mega-' (M) was ambiguously used to represent both 1,000,000 (106, as per its SI definition) and 1,048,576 (220) in computing contexts. This led to confusion, especially when comparing storage capacities advertised by manufacturers (often using decimal prefixes) and memory sizes or file sizes reported by operating systems (often using binary interpretations). The introduction of the mebibyte (MiB) aimed to resolve this ambiguity by providing a specific term for 1,048,576 bytes.
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.
Common Uses for mebibytes and gibibytes
Explore the typical applications for both Mebibyte (imperial/US) and Gibibyte (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for mebibytes
Mebibytes are used in contexts where precision based on powers of 2 is necessary:
- Precisely measuring computer memory (RAM) capacity, which is typically manufactured in powers-of-2 sizes.
- Reporting file sizes and disk space usage by operating systems (like Windows, macOS, Linux distributions) and file systems that adhere to IEC standards.
- Software development, technical documentation, and virtualization where exact binary multiples are crucial for calculations, specifications, or resource allocation.
- Cache sizes in CPUs and other hardware components.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Mebibyte (MiB)
How many bytes are in a mebibyte (MiB)?
There are exactly 220 bytes in 1 mebibyte (MiB). This equals 1,048,576 bytes.
How many kibibytes (KiB) are in a mebibyte (MiB)?
There are 1,024 kibibytes (KiB) in 1 mebibyte (MiB). This follows the binary prefix system where 1 MiB = 220 bytes and 1 KiB = 210 bytes, and 220 / 210 = 210 = 1,024.
What is the difference between a mebibyte (MiB) and a megabyte (MB)?
A mebibyte (MiB) represents 220 bytes (1,048,576 bytes), using the IEC binary prefix 'mebi-'. A megabyte (MB) typically represents 106 bytes (1,000,000 bytes), using the SI decimal prefix 'mega-'. A mebibyte is approximately 4.86% larger than a megabyte (1 MiB ≈ 1.0486 MB). Use MiB for precision in binary contexts (like RAM, OS reporting) and MB for decimal contexts (like hard drive marketing, network speeds in some cases) or when the specific definition is clarified.
What is the difference between a mebibyte (MiB) and a mebibit (Mib)?
A mebibyte (MiB) measures information in bytes, while a mebibit (Mib) measures information in bits. Assuming the standard 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 mebibyte (MiB) is equal to 8 mebibits (Mib). Both use the binary prefix 'mebi-' (220).
Why is MiB used less often than MB in marketing?
Marketing materials (like hard drive capacities) often use the decimal prefix (MB, GB) because it results in a larger-looking number for capacity compared to the binary prefix (MiB, GiB) for the same amount of physical storage (e.g., 1,000,000,000 bytes is marketed as 1 GB, while an OS might report it as approximately 931 MiB, not GiB, because 1 GB is closer to 953.67 MiB, but OS often report GiB as GB). This discrepancy arises because 1 MB = 106 bytes, whereas 1 MiB = 220 bytes. Using decimal units allows manufacturers to advertise higher numbers.
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.
Conversion Table: Mebibyte to Gibibyte
| Mebibyte (MiB) | Gibibyte (GiB) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 25 | 0.024 |
| 50 | 0.049 |
| 100 | 0.098 |
| 500 | 0.488 |
| 1,000 | 0.977 |