Bits to Bytes Converter
Convert bits to bytes — eight bits to the byte. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One bit is 0.125 bytes — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the bits to bytes converter works
Storage converts through the byte (8 bits). Drive makers and network speeds use decimal prefixes (1 GB = 10⁹ bytes); operating systems often report binary units (1 GiB = 2³⁰ = 1,073,741,824 bytes) — sometimes labelled "GB". The gap is 7.4% at the gigabyte and 10% at the terabyte.
The UK is metric for most trade and science but keeps miles, pints, stone and mpg (with the imperial gallon) in daily life.
Common data conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 8 bit | 1 B | bits to bytes |
| 16 bit | 2 B | bits to bytes |
| 32 bit | 4 B | bits to bytes |
| 64 bit | 8 B | bits to bytes |
| 128 bit | 16 B | bits to bytes |
| 256 bit | 32 B | bits to bytes |
| 1,024 bit | 128 B | bits to bytes |
| 8,000 bit | 1,000 B | bits to bytes |
| 8,192 bit | 1,024 B | bits to bytes |
| 100,000 bit | 12,500 B | bits to bytes |
| 1,000,000 bit | 125,000 B | bits to bytes |
| 8,000,000 bit | 1,000,000 B | bits to bytes |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in bytes |
|---|---|---|
| bit | bit | 0.125 byte |
| byte | B | 1 byte |
| kilobyte (10³) | kB | 1,000 byte |
| megabyte (10⁶) | MB | 1,000,000 byte |
| gigabyte (10⁹) | GB | 1,000,000,000 byte |
| terabyte (10¹²) | TB | 1,000,000,000,000 byte |
| kibibyte (2¹⁰) | KiB | 1,024 byte |
| mebibyte (2²⁰) | MiB | 1,048,576 byte |
| gibibyte (2³⁰) | GiB | 1,073,741,824 byte |
| tebibyte (2⁴⁰) | TiB | 1,099,511,627,776 byte |
FAQFrequently asked questions about data conversion
How many bits in a byte?
Eight.
Why does my internet speed look eight times faster than my download?
Because connection speed is quoted in megabits and file sizes in megabytes. A 100 Mbps line downloads at about 12.5 MB/s.
What is the difference between Mb and MB?
A lowercase b is bits, an uppercase B is bytes. The factor of eight between them causes constant confusion.
How many bytes is a 1 Gbps connection per second?
125 MB.
Was a byte always eight bits?
No — early machines used six or nine, but eight has been standard since the 1960s.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL) — United Kingdom's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.