Petabyte to Petabit Converter
Convert petabytes to petabits with our free online data storage converter.
Quick Answer
1 Petabyte = 8 petabits
Formula: Petabyte × conversion factor = Petabit
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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Petabyte to Petabit Calculator
How to Use the Petabyte to Petabit Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Petabyte).
- The converted value in Petabit 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 Petabyte to Petabit: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Petabyte to Petabit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Petabyte = 8 petabitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 petabytes: 10 × 8 = 80 petabits
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 Petabyte and a Petabit?
A petabyte (PB) is a multiple of the byte unit for digital information storage. The prefix peta- (symbol P) is defined in the International System of Units (SI) as a multiplier of 1015 (1 quadrillion, or 1 followed by 15 zeros). Therefore, 1 petabyte = 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes. This is equivalent to 1,000 terabytes (TB) or 1,000,000 gigabytes (GB). The petabyte is distinct from the pebibyte (PiB), which uses the binary prefix 'pebi-' established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and equals 250 bytes.
A petabit (Pb or Pbit) is a multiple of the bit unit for digital information or computer storage. The prefix peta- (symbol P) is defined in the International System of Units (SI) as a multiplier of 1015 (1 quadrillion, or 1 followed by 15 zeros). Therefore, 1 petabit = 1,000,000,000,000,000 bits. This is equivalent to 1,000 terabits (Tb) or 1,000,000 gigabits (Gb).
Note: The Petabyte is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Petabit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Petabyte and Petabit
The prefix 'peta-' originates from the Greek word "pente," meaning five (as 1015 = 10005), and was officially adopted as an SI prefix in 1975. In computing and data storage, the term 'petabyte' became necessary as data volumes grew exponentially beyond the terabyte scale in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Initially, like other SI prefixes (kilo-, mega-, giga-, tera-), 'peta-' was sometimes ambiguously used by some to refer to the nearest power of 2 (250). However, the formal adoption of binary prefixes like 'pebi-' (Pi) by the IEC in 1998 aimed to resolve this confusion, clarifying that petabyte (PB) should strictly refer to 1015 bytes, while pebibyte (PiB) refers to 250 bytes. Despite standardization, the term PB is still sometimes used loosely in casual contexts, but in technical specifications and marketing, PB almost always means 1015 bytes.
As data volumes and network speeds continued to increase dramatically beyond the terabit scale, the petabit became relevant for quantifying extremely large amounts of data and ultra-high transmission capacities. It strictly follows the SI definition of 'peta-' as 1015. The distinction between decimal (petabit, Pb) and binary (pebibit, Pib = 250 bits) became increasingly important at this scale, leading to the formalization of binary prefixes like 'pebi-' by the IEC to avoid ambiguity.
Common Uses and Applications: petabytes vs petabits
Explore the typical applications for both Petabyte (imperial/US) and Petabit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for petabytes
Petabytes are used to quantify extremely large amounts of digital storage and data:
- Capacity of large-scale data centers, cloud storage platforms (e.g., Google Drive, AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage), and enterprise storage systems.
- Big data analytics, involving the processing and storage of vast datasets for scientific research (like genomics, particle physics, astronomy), business intelligence, and machine learning model training.
- National digital archives, large media libraries, and corporate data repositories storing historical records, high-resolution multimedia content, or extensive backups.
- High-performance computing (HPC) environments managing massive simulation outputs or experimental data collections.
- Large-scale video surveillance systems storing continuous high-resolution footage from numerous cameras.
- Quantifying the total amount of data generated globally or traversing major internet backbones over periods.
When to Use petabits
Petabits are primarily used in contexts involving massive data scales:
- Measuring the theoretical or actual data transfer rates of core internet backbones, major international communication links, and large-scale data center networks (often expressed in Pbps - petabits per second).
- Quantifying the aggregate data traffic processed by major internet exchange points (IXPs) or national telecommunications networks over specific timeframes.
- Describing the capacity of cutting-edge optical fiber communication systems and research networks.
- Characterizing the sheer volume of data generated or processed in large scientific endeavors, such as high-energy physics experiments, climate modeling, or large astronomical surveys, especially when discussing data transmission or raw bit counts.
- High-performance computing (HPC) environments dealing with massive datasets.
Additional Unit Information
About Petabyte (PB)
How many bytes are in a petabyte (PB)?
There are exactly 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (one quadrillion bytes, or 1015 bytes) in 1 petabyte (PB), according to the standard SI definition of the prefix 'peta-'.
How many terabytes (TB) are in a petabyte (PB)?
There are 1,000 terabytes (TB) in 1 petabyte (PB). This follows the SI prefixes where each prefix increases by a factor of 1,000: 1 PB = 1015 bytes and 1 TB = 1012 bytes. Therefore, 1 PB / 1 TB = 1015 / 1012 = 103 = 1,000.
What is the difference between a petabyte (PB) and a pebibyte (PiB)?
- A petabyte (PB) uses the decimal SI prefix 'peta-' and equals 1015 bytes (1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes). It is commonly used in storage marketing and cloud capacity definitions.
- A pebibyte (PiB) uses the binary IEC prefix 'pebi-' and equals 250 bytes (1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes). It is used for precise measurement in technical contexts where powers of 2 are relevant (like OS reporting or memory architecture).
A pebibyte is approximately 12.6% larger than a petabyte (1 PiB ≈ 1.126 PB).
What is the difference between a petabyte (PB) and a petabit (Pb)?
- A petabyte (PB) measures data storage capacity in bytes and equals 1015 bytes.
- A petabit (Pb) measures data quantity or data transfer speed in bits and equals 1015 bits.
Assuming the standard definition of 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 petabyte (PB) is equal to 8 petabits (Pb). Calculation: 1 PB = 1015 bytes = 1015 * 8 bits = 8 * 1015 bits = 8 Pb. Therefore, a petabyte represents 8 times more data storage capacity than the equivalent number of petabits.
Why is PB often used in marketing instead of PiB?
Storage manufacturers typically market drive and system capacities using the decimal prefix petabyte (PB) because 1015 bytes yields a larger, rounder number compared to the equivalent value expressed using the binary prefix pebibyte (PiB) (which is 250 bytes). For instance, a storage system containing exactly 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes is advertised as 1 PB. If measured in pebibytes, this same physical capacity would be approximately 0.888 PiB (since 1015 / 250 ≈ 0.888). Using PB allows manufacturers to present higher capacity figures, which is advantageous for marketing. This often leads to discrepancies where users see a marketed capacity in PB (or TB, GB) but their operating system reports a lower number when using binary calculations (often labeled GiB/TiB/PiB, or sometimes confusingly still labeled GB/TB/PB).
About Petabit (Pb)
How many bits are in a petabit?
There are exactly 1,000,000,000,000,000 bits (one quadrillion bits, or 1015 bits) in 1 petabit (Pb), according to the standard SI definition of the prefix 'peta-'.
What is the difference between a petabit (Pb) and a petabyte (PB)?
- A petabit (Pb) measures data in bits and equals 1015 bits. It is commonly used for data transfer rates and network capacity.
- A petabyte (PB) measures data in bytes. According to SI standards, it equals 1015 bytes. It is typically used for measuring large storage capacities. (Note: The term pebibyte (PiB) correctly refers to 250 bytes).
Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 petabyte (1015 bytes) is equal to 8 x 1015 bits, or 8 petabits. Therefore, a petabyte represents 8 times more data than a petabit.
What is the difference between a petabit (Pb) and a pebibit (Pib)?
- A petabit (Pb) uses the decimal SI prefix 'peta-' and equals 1015 bits (1,000,000,000,000,000 bits).
- A pebibit (Pib) uses the binary IEC prefix 'pebi-' and equals 250 bits (1,125,899,906,842,624 bits).
A pebibit is approximately 12.6% larger than a petabit (1 Pib ≈ 1.126 Pb). Use Pb for contexts adhering to decimal standards (like network speeds) and Pib when precise binary multiples (powers of 2) are required (often related to memory or specific storage architectures).
How many gigabits (Gb) are in a petabit (Pb)?
There are 1,000,000 gigabits (Gb) in 1 petabit (Pb). This is derived from the SI prefixes: 1 Pb = 1015 bits and 1 Gb = 109 bits. Therefore, 1 Pb / 1 Gb = 1015 / 109 = 106 = 1,000,000.
Conversion Table: Petabyte to Petabit
| Petabyte (PB) | Petabit (Pb) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 4 |
| 1 | 8 |
| 1.5 | 12 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 5 | 40 |
| 10 | 80 |
| 25 | 200 |
| 50 | 400 |
| 100 | 800 |
| 250 | 2,000 |
| 500 | 4,000 |
| 1,000 | 8,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Petabyte to Petabit?
To convert Petabyte to Petabit, enter the value in Petabyte 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 Petabyte to Petabit?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Petabyte and Petabit. 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 Petabit back to Petabyte?
Yes! You can easily convert Petabit back to Petabyte by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Petabit to Petabyte converter page. You can also explore other data storage conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Petabyte and Petabit?
Petabyte and Petabit 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
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) • Petabyte to Bit
- Byte (B) • Petabyte to Byte
- Kilobit (kb) • Petabyte to Kilobit
- Kilobyte (KB) • Petabyte to Kilobyte
- Megabit (Mb) • Petabyte to Megabit
- Megabyte (MB) • Petabyte to Megabyte
- Gigabit (Gb) • Petabyte to Gigabit
- Gigabyte (GB) • Petabyte to Gigabyte
- Terabit (Tb) • Petabyte to Terabit
- Terabyte (TB) • Petabyte to Terabyte
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