MB to GB Converter
Convert megabytes to gigabytes and vice versa using binary (1024) or decimal (1000) systems
Convert Megabytes and Gigabytes
1 GB = 1,024 MB (Computer standard)
1 GB = 1,000 MB (SI standard)
1 megabyte = 1,048,576 bytes
1 gigabyte = 1,024 MB
Conversion Results
Conversion factor: 1 GB = 1,024 MB (binary system)
Formula: GB = MB ÷ 1024
System: Binary (used by computers)
Storage Category: Very Small - Text files, small documents
Common MB to GB Conversions
| Megabytes (MB) | Gigabytes (GB) - Binary | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1.000 MB | 0.000977 GB | Small text file |
| 5.000 MB | 0.0049 GB | High-res photo |
| 50.00 MB | 0.0488 GB | Document with images |
| 100.0 MB | 0.0977 GB | Short video clip |
| 500.0 MB | 0.4883 GB | Large presentation |
| 1,024 MB | 1.000 GB | 1 GB equivalent |
| 2,048 MB | 2.000 GB | HD movie (compressed) |
| 4,096 MB | 4.000 GB | DVD quality movie |
| 8,192 MB | 8.000 GB | Blu-ray movie |
| 51,200 MB | 50.00 GB | Large software package |
Storage Size Guide
< 0.1 GB
Photos, documents, small files
0.1 - 1 GB
Songs, small videos, apps
1 - 10 GB
Movies, large apps, games
10+ GB
System files, databases
System Comparison
Binary (1024)
Used by: Computers, OS, RAM
1 GB = 1,024 MB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
Decimal (1000)
Used by: Storage manufacturers, SI
1 GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
Why the difference? A 500 GB hard drive shows as ~465 GB in Windows due to different systems.
Understanding MB to GB Conversion
What are MB and GB?
Both megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB) are units of digital information storage. They represent how much data can be stored in computer memory, hard drives, or other storage devices.
Megabyte (MB)
- •1 million (or 1,048,576) bytes of information
- •Typical for photos, documents, small videos
- •Common in early computing and smaller files
Gigabyte (GB)
- •1 billion (or 1,073,741,824) bytes of information
- •Used for movies, games, large software
- •Standard unit for modern storage devices
Binary vs Decimal Systems
There are two different systems for measuring digital storage, which can cause confusion when converting between MB and GB.
Binary System (Base-2)
1 GB = 1,024 MB
- • Used by computer operating systems
- • Based on powers of 2 (2¹⁰ = 1024)
- • More accurate for computer memory
Decimal System (Base-10)
1 GB = 1,000 MB
- • Used by storage device manufacturers
- • Based on powers of 10 (10³ = 1000)
- • Follows SI metric system standards
Real-World Impact
A 1TB hard drive actually contains about 931 GB of usable space because manufacturers use decimal (1000³) while computers use binary (1024³) calculations.