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Guide

How to Convert Network Speeds (Mbit/s, MB/s and More)

Understand the difference between bits and bytes per second and how to convert network speeds accurately.

Open the Data Transfer Converter

A data transfer converter translates network speeds between bit/s, Kbit/s, Mbit/s, Gbit/s and Byte/s, KB/s, MB/s, GB/s. The crucial distinction is bits (lowercase b) versus bytes (uppercase B).

Bits vs. bytes per second

Network speeds are usually quoted in bits per second (Mbit/s or Mbps), while file transfer rates and storage are quoted in bytes per second (MB/s). Because 1 byte = 8 bits, a 100 Mbit/s connection downloads at most 12.5 MB/s — a common source of confusion.

Key conversion factors

  • 1 Byte/s = 8 bit/s.
  • 1 Kbit/s = 1000 bit/s; 1 Mbit/s = 1000 Kbit/s.
  • 1 KB/s = 1024 Byte/s; 1 MB/s = 1024 KB/s.
  • To convert Mbit/s to MB/s: divide by 8 (then adjust for the 1000 vs 1024 convention).

How to use the converter

  1. Enter a speed and choose its unit.
  2. Choose the target unit.
  3. Read the converted speed.

Examples

A 600 Mbit/s fibre line transfers at up to 75 MB/s. A file downloading at 8 MB/s is using about 64 Mbit/s of bandwidth. A 1 Gbit/s link moves up to 125 MB/s in theory — real-world overhead lowers this.

When a data transfer converter is useful

  • Estimating download or upload times.
  • Comparing internet plan speeds.
  • Converting between networking and storage figures.
  • Sizing backups or transfers against bandwidth.

Put it into practice

Use the Data Transfer Converter right now — free, in your browser, no sign-up required.

Try the Data Transfer Converter

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