Data Transfer Rate Converter
Data transfer rates measure how quickly information moves through communication channels, from internet connections to local networks to storage devices. The critical confusion in this field stems from the difference between bits and bytes, and the difference between SI and binary units. Internet service providers advertise speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps), while file downloads are measured in megabytes per second (MB/s) or gigabytes per second (GB/s). Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, a 100 Mbps internet connection downloads at only 12.5 MB/s in ideal conditions. This factor of eight is why a 1 Gbps connection (gigabits) delivers only 125 MB/s (megabytes). Data transfer rates also use two different unit systems: SI prefixes (powers of 1,000) for internet and most networking speeds, and binary prefixes (powers of 1,024) for some storage and memory transfer rates. Understanding these conversions is essential when comparing internet plans, evaluating network equipment, estimating file transfer times, or understanding cloud backup speeds. A 10 Mbps upload speed sounds better than 1.25 MB/s, but they are equivalent. This calculator displays eleven transfer rate units: bits per second (bps) through terabits per second, plus byte-based units in SI and binary forms. Enter a value in any field and all others update instantly.
NIST conversion factors
All conversions below use standard factors, with all units expressed relative to bits per second. Note: 1 byte equals 8 bits.
| Unit | Symbol | Bits per Second |
|---|---|---|
| Bits per second | bps | 1 |
| Kilobits per second | kbps | 1,000 |
| Megabits per second | Mbps | 1,000,000 |
| Gigabits per second | Gbps | 1,000,000,000 |
| Terabits per second | Tbps | 1,000,000,000,000 |
| Kilobytes per second | KB/s | 8,000 |
| Megabytes per second | MB/s | 8,000,000 |
| Gigabytes per second | GB/s | 8,000,000,000 |
| Kibibytes per second | KiB/s | 8,192 |
| Mebibytes per second | MiB/s | 8,388,608 |
| Gibibytes per second | GiB/s | 8,589,934,592 |
Data transfer rate converter: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps means megabits per second, while MB/s means megabytes per second. Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, 8 Mbps equals 1 MB/s. Internet service providers advertise speeds in Mbps (smaller numbers), while file download speeds are often shown in MB/s (larger numbers). Always check units carefully.
Why is my internet slower than advertised?
Internet providers advertise speeds in Mbps (megabits per second), but file downloads are measured in MB/s (megabytes per second). A 100 Mbps connection can download at about 12.5 MB/s in ideal conditions. Other factors like network congestion, distance to servers, and protocol overhead also reduce real speeds.
What does 5G speed mean?
5G networks can theoretically reach gigabits per second (Gbps), far faster than 4G's megabits per second (Mbps). Real-world speeds depend on signal strength, network congestion, and network conditions. Early 5G in many areas operates at 100-500 Mbps, with theoretical speeds up to 10 Gbps.
How precise are these conversions?
Data transfer rates use exact conversions: 1 bit is the base unit, 1 byte equals exactly 8 bits. SI prefixes (kilo, mega, giga, tera) use powers of 1,000. All conversions shown are precise to two decimal places.
When would I use different transfer rate units?
Internet speeds are in Mbps or Gbps. Local network speeds (Ethernet, WiFi) are in Mbps or Gbps. File transfer speeds are in MB/s or GB/s. Serial communications and legacy systems use bps. Cloud providers may quote in different units. This calculator handles all conversions.
Official sources
- NIST Special Publication 330: The International System of Units.
- IEC 80000-13: International Electrotechnical Commission standard for binary prefixes.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.