KB/MB/GB/TB: How Different Are Storage Units Really?
Drive makers label in decimal: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes; operating systems mostly use binary: 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes. That's why a '1TB' drive shows about 931GB.
The unit ladder
- Decimal: KB→MB→GB→TB, ×1000 each step
- Binary: KiB→MiB→GiB→TiB, ×1024 each step
- About 4.9% apart, and the gap widens with size
Practical use
When estimating file size, bandwidth, or cloud quotas, confirm which base the other side uses first, or you'll miscalculate.
💡 FreeToolset's data-storage converter supports both decimal and binary units — the switch is instantly clear.