MB to GB converter
Convert between megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB) instantly.
- Result
- 0.001
How it's calculated
This calculator uses the decimal (SI) convention, where 1 GB equals 1000 MB, the same one used by storage manufacturers and most online converters. Some operating systems instead use the binary convention (1 GB = 1024 MB), which gives a slightly different result.
GB = MB ÷ 1000
It's useful for figuring out how much free space is left on a drive, how many photos or videos fit on a memory card, or understanding the gap between the storage advertised by the manufacturer and what the operating system reports.
MB = GB × 1000
Worked example
2500 MB equals 2500 ÷ 1000 = 2.5 GB. A typical phone photo takes up about 4-5 MB, so 1 GB (1000 MB) holds roughly 200-250 photos.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my operating system show a different number?
- Because some operating systems use the binary convention (1 GB = 1024 MB) instead of the decimal one (1 GB = 1000 MB) used by this calculator.
- How many MB is 1 GB?
- Using the decimal convention this calculator applies, 1 GB equals 1000 MB.
- Which convention do drive and memory manufacturers use?
- Storage manufacturers typically use the decimal convention (1 GB = 1000 MB), same as this calculator.
- Why does a 1 TB drive show less usable space on my computer?
- The manufacturer labels the drive in decimal (1 TB = 1000 GB) while the operating system measures it in binary (1 TB ≈ 931 GiB), which produces the usual ~7% gap.
- How many GB does 1 hour of HD video need?
- A 1080p video typically takes 2500 to 4000 MB per hour depending on compression, i.e. 2.5 to 4 GB.