📶 Data Transfer Rate Converter
ISP speeds are advertised in megabits per second, but file downloads show megabytes per second — an 8x gap. Also handles binary (KiB, MiB) vs decimal (kB, MB) prefixes.
Last updated — conversions use exact ISO unit definitions.
How it works
Transfer rate conversions route through bits per second. The key confusion is between decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) prefixes: 1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits/s (decimal), but 1 MiB/s = 1,048,576 bytes/s (binary). Network speeds are almost always quoted in decimal bits, while file sizes use binary bytes — which is why a 100 Mbps connection downloads at roughly 12.5 MB/s (not 12.5 MiB/s).
To convert Mbps to MB/s, divide by 8 first (bits → bytes), then decide which prefix set you want: divide by 1,000 for MB/s (decimal) or by 1,024 for MiB/s (binary). This tool shows both.
Kilobits per second (kbps) and kilobytes per second (KB/s) differ by the same factor — 8× for the bit/byte distinction, and 1.024× for the decimal/binary distinction. Mobile carriers advertise in Mbps; browsers typically show MB/s or MiB/s.
Why bits and bytes differ
A byte is 8 bits. ISPs advertise in bits (makes number 8x bigger). OS shows bytes. So 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s downloads. Binary vs decimal prefixes create a 4.86% gap at the MB scale.
How accurate are these conversions?
All conversions use ISO 80000 standard unit definitions. For example, 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters exactly by international agreement.
Why can't I see all units on mobile?
The result table scrolls horizontally. The headline pair above shows the most commonly requested conversion.
Do you store my inputs?
No. All calculations happen in your browser. We collect zero personal data.
General information only — see our disclaimer.