Computer File Sizes Explained
Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes to the Sky!
File sizes can be very confusing. For instance - which is bigger? 1.8 MB or 1800 KB? They are basically the same size! Confused? There is no need to be!
The standard measurement units that are used online and on your computer are gigabytes, megabytes, kilobytes and bytes.
| Largest |
Larger |
Large |
Basic Unit |
| Gigabyte (GB) |
Megabyte (MB) |
Kilobyte (KB) |
Byte |
For every 1024 bytes, that makes one kilobyte. For simplicity we are going to round to 1000 so that we can do the math in our heads.
Each unit changes names when you get to 1000 of that unit. The basic unit is a byte. If you have 1000 bytes, you can then call it 1 kilobyte. If you have 1000 kilobytes, you can then call it 1 megabyte. The same happens when you go up from megabytes to gigabytes.
Each chart below shows equivalent amounts. Note that the decimal place moves three places either to the right or left.
| Gigabyte (GB) |
Megabyte (MB) |
Kilobyte (KB) |
Byte |
| 1 |
1,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000,000 |
| Gigabyte (GB) |
Megabyte (MB) |
Kilobyte (KB) |
Byte |
| .001 |
1 |
1,000 |
1,000,000 |
| Gigabyte (GB) |
Megabyte (MB) |
Kilobyte (KB) |
Byte |
| .000001 |
.001 |
1 |
1,000 |
| Gigabyte (GB) |
Megabyte (MB) |
Kilobyte (KB) |
Byte |
| .000000001 |
.000001 |
.001 |
1 |
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