Megabytes Converter - Convert MB to KB, GB, TB, Bytes
Convert megabytes to kilobytes, gigabytes, terabytes, bytes and more. Free online megabytes converter tool for digital storage and file size calculations.
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Megabytes Converter
Megabytes (MB)
Convert To
Common Megabytes Examples
1 MB
1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes
5 MB
5 MB = 5,242,880 bytes (typical high-res image)
10 MB
10 MB = 10,485,760 bytes (short MP3 audio)
100 MB
100 MB = 104,857,600 bytes (small video file)
1024 MB
1024 MB = 1 GB
1048576 MB
1,048,576 MB = 1 TB
Megabytes (MB) – Definition, History, Current Uses, and Real Examples
Definition
A megabyte (MB) is a unit of digital information equal to 1,048,576 bytes (binary) or 1,000,000 bytes (decimal). This tool uses the binary convention (1 MB = 1024 × 1024 bytes) for accurate file size and storage calculations.
Origin or history
The term megabyte comes from the metric system, but in computing, it almost always means 1,048,576 bytes (2^20). The IEC introduced the mebibyte (MiB) in 1998 to clarify binary vs decimal, but MB is still widely used for 1024 × 1024 bytes in operating systems and file sizes.
Current use
- Image and video file sizes: JPEGs, PNGs, and short videos are often measured in MB.
- Email attachments: Most providers limit attachments to 10–25 MB.
- Software downloads: Installers and updates are commonly listed in MB.
- Cloud storage: Free plans often offer a few hundred MBs.
Examples
- How many bytes in 3 MB? 3 × 1,048,576 = 3,145,728 bytes.
- Convert 500 MB to GB: 500 ÷ 1024 ≈ 0.488 GB.
- Resize a 12 MB image to under 2 MB for web optimization.
- What is 2048 MB in GB? 2048 ÷ 1024 = 2 GB.
Quick reference
- 1 Megabyte = 1024 kilobytes
- 1 Megabyte = 1,048,576 bytes
- 1 Gigabyte = 1024 megabytes
- 1 Terabyte = 1024 gigabytes