≡ References
Converters
Data Size & Transfer Reference
Bits, bytes, decimal storage units, and the basic file-transfer-time relationship in one place.
Bits and bytes
8 bits = 1 byte.
Decimal storage units
1 kB = 1,000 bytes. 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.
Transfer rate
Network speeds are commonly stated in bits per second, while file sizes are commonly stated in bytes. Convert the file size to bits before dividing by the bit rate.
Ideal transfer time in seconds = file size in bits ÷ connection speed in bits per second.
Real transfer time can be longer because of protocol overhead, congestion, wireless conditions, server limits, and other factors.
How this resource works
This reference uses decimal SI-style prefixes for storage quantities and explicitly separates bits from bytes.