Megabytes to Gigabytes Converter
Convert megabytes to gigabytes and understand the difference between decimal (1000) and binary (1024) data units.
Result
Gigabytes (GB)
1 Megabytes (MB) = 0.0009765625 Gigabytes (GB)
How to convert Megabytes (MB) to Gigabytes (GB)?
Note: Storage conversions are commonly shown using two standards: decimal (SI) and binary (IEC). That’s why some tools show slightly different answers.
- Decimal (SI): 1 GB = 1000 MB
- Binary (IEC): 1 GiB = 1024 MiB (often shown as “1024 MB per GB” in some tools)
This converter uses a 1024-based calculation as specified by the factor.
Formula (1024-based): Gigabytes (GB) = Megabytes (MB) ÷ 1024
Step-by-Step Calculation (1024-based)
- Take the number of Megabytes (MB) you want to convert (e.g., 2500).
- Divide that value by 1024.
- The result is the value in Gigabytes (GB). (Example: 2500 ÷ 1024 ≈ 2.4414 GB).
Decimal vs Binary: which one should you use?
Decimal (SI) is common in storage marketing and plan labels:
- 1 GB = 1000 MB
- GB = MB ÷ 1000
Binary (IEC) is common in operating systems and some software:
- 1 GiB = 1024 MiB
- GiB = MiB ÷ 1024
Quick tip: If you want a result that matches provider/marketing labels, use 1000-based. If you want a result that matches binary calculations, use 1024-based (MiB→GiB).
Real-world use cases (uploads, storage plans, and file sizes)
- Upload limits: A 500 MB upload limit is 0.5 GB in decimal terms (500 ÷ 1000), but about 0.4883 GB in 1024-based terms (500 ÷ 1024).
- Storage plans: A “10 GB” plan is often marketed as 10,000 MB (decimal).
- File sizes: A 3500 MB video is about 3.5 GB (decimal) or about 3.4180 GB in 1024-based terms.
How to use this converter?
Common MB to GB Conversions (1024-based)
Quick reference guide for common file sizes using a 1024-based factor.
Note: 1000 vs 1024
MB to GB Conversion Table (1024-based)
| Megabytes (MB) Input | Gigabytes (GB) Result |
|---|---|
| 256 MB | 0.2500 GB |
| 500 MB | 0.4883 GB |
| 1000 MB | 0.9766 GB |
| 1024 MB | 1.0000 GB |
| 1500 MB | 1.4648 GB |
| 2000 MB | 1.9531 GB |
| 2500 MB | 2.4414 GB |
| 3000 MB | 2.9297 GB |
| 5000 MB | 4.8828 GB |
| 10000 MB | 9.7656 GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert MB to GB?
If you mean decimal labeling, divide MB by 1000 to get GB. If you’re using a 1024-based calculation, divide by 1024 (commonly aligned with MiB→GiB).
How many GB is 1000 MB?
In decimal terms, 1000 MB = 1 GB. Using a 1024-based calculation, 1000 ÷ 1024 ≈ 0.9766 GB.
How many GB is 1024 MB?
Using a 1024-based calculation, 1024 MB = 1 GB (more precisely: 1024 MiB = 1 GiB).
Why do some tools use 1000 instead of 1024?
1000 is the decimal (SI) standard used in marketing and many storage plans. 1024 is the binary (IEC) standard (MiB/GiB) often used by operating systems and some software.
Is this conversion exact?
It’s exact for the chosen factor. 1024-based conversions are exact in the binary system (MiB→GiB). Decimal labeling commonly uses 1000 (MB→GB).