Megabytes to Bytes Converter

Convert between megabytes (MB) and bytes (B) for measuring digital storage, file sizes, and data transfer in computing and technology applications.

Conversion Factor (Binary, Used in Computing):

1 Megabyte (MB) = 1,048,576 Bytes (B) = 1024² Bytes

B = MB × 1,048,576 | MB = B ÷ 1,048,576

*Note: Some industries use decimal (1 MB = 1,000,000 B) - toggle below for this standard

Binary (1024-based)
MB

Accepts decimal values (e.g., 2 MB = 2,097,152 B)

B

Display format:

Quick conversions - click to auto-fill (binary):

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About Megabytes and Bytes

Fundamental units of digital information storage used in computing and technology

Byte (B)

  • The basic unit of digital information storage
  • Traditionally represents 8 bits, where each bit is a binary digit (0 or 1)
  • Used for measuring very small data sizes (text characters, small files)
  • 1 byte can store 1 character in ASCII encoding
  • Larger units: Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 B, Megabyte (MB) = 1024² B, etc.

Megabyte (MB)

  • Binary definition: 1 MB = 1024 Kilobytes = 1024² Bytes = 1,048,576 Bytes
  • Decimal definition: 1 MB = 1000 Kilobytes = 1000² Bytes = 1,000,000 Bytes (used in marketing)
  • Used for measuring medium-sized data (photos, documents, small applications)
  • 1 MB can store about 500 pages of plain text or 1-2 high-quality photos
  • Part of the binary prefix system: MB → GB → TB → PB and beyond

Digital Storage Context (Binary)

Common digital files and their approximate sizes in both units:

File Type Bytes (B) Megabytes (MB)
Plain text document (1 page) ~2,000 B ~0.0019 MB
High-resolution photo (JPEG) ~3-5 MB = ~3-5 million B 3-5 MB
MP3 song (3 minutes) ~3-5 million B 3-5 MB
PDF document (50 pages with images) ~10-20 million B 10-20 MB
Short video clip (1 minute) ~50-100 million B 50-100 MB
Mobile application ~50-2000 million B 50-2000 MB

Megabytes to Bytes Conversion Table

Common storage conversions for digital files, memory, and data transfer

Conversion Standard:

Binary (1024-based)
Megabytes (MB) = Bytes (B) Typical Storage Context
0.001 MB = 1,024 B Small text file
0.1 MB = 104,858 B Email with small attachment
0.5 MB = 524,288 B High-quality image thumbnail
1 MB = 1,048,576 B Several photos (low resolution)
5 MB = 5,242,880 B One high-quality photo
10 MB = 10,485,760 B Short MP3 audio file
100 MB = 104,857,600 B Small video clip or document collection

Binary conversion uses 1024-based prefixes (1 MB = 1024² B). Decimal uses 1000-based prefixes (1 MB = 1000² B).

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about megabytes, bytes, and digital storage conversions

Why are there two different definitions for megabytes?

The dual definitions stem from different historical contexts:

Binary (1024-based): 1 MB = 1024 × 1024 = 1,048,576 Bytes

Used in computing and software for memory and storage measurements

Decimal (1000-based): 1 MB = 1000 × 1000 = 1,000,000 Bytes

Used in marketing, hard drive manufacturing, and consumer electronics

This difference explains why a "100 GB" hard drive shows less capacity in your computer - the manufacturer uses decimal, while your OS uses binary measurement.

When should I use binary vs. decimal conversion?

Use binary conversion (1024-based) for:

  • Software and operating system storage measurements
  • RAM and memory specifications
  • File size displays in most applications
  • Programming and data processing calculations

Use decimal conversion (1000-based) for:

  • Hard drive and storage device marketing specifications
  • Network bandwidth measurements (e.g., "50 Mbps")
  • Consumer electronics packaging and specifications
  • Data transfer rates in marketing materials

What's the difference between a byte and a bit?

These are related but distinct units in digital storage:

1 bit = Single binary digit (0 or 1) - the smallest unit of data

1 byte = 8 bits - the basic unit for storing a single character

1 kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes = 8192 bits

1 megabyte (MB) = 1024² bytes = 8,388,608 bits

Bits are typically used for measuring data transfer rates (e.g., internet speed in Mbps - megabits per second), while bytes are used for measuring storage capacity (e.g., file sizes in MB).

How do larger storage units relate to bytes and megabytes?

The binary prefix system extends to larger units as follows:

Unit Abbreviation Equivalent in Bytes
Byte B 1 B
Kilobyte KB 1,024 B
Megabyte MB 1,048,576 B (1024²)
Gigabyte GB 1,073,741,824 B (1024³)
Terabyte TB 1,099,511,627,776 B (1024⁴)

Each unit is 1024 times larger than the previous one in the binary system, or 1000 times larger in the decimal system.

Why does my computer show different file sizes than advertised?

The common discrepancy between advertised and displayed storage sizes happens because:

  • Manufacturers use decimal prefixes (1 MB = 1,000,000 B)
  • Operating systems use binary prefixes (1 MB = 1,048,576 B)
  • This creates about a 5% difference in reported sizes
  • Example: A "100 MB" file might show as ~95.37 MB in your OS

This converter helps reconcile these differences by allowing you to toggle between binary and decimal conversion standards.

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