File Size Calculator
Convert between storage units and calculate download times
Data Disclaimer: This tool provides estimates based on ideal conditions. Actual transfer speeds may vary due to network congestion, hardware limitations, and other factors.
Tip: Use this calculator for storage planning, bandwidth estimation, and file transfer calculations.
File Size Conversion
Download Time Estimator
Estimated Time:
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Actual Speed:
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Storage Capacity Calculator
Total Size:
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HDD Space Needed:
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Files per GB:
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Understanding File Sizes & Storage
Storage Units
Digital storage uses binary prefixes: 1 KB = 1024 bytes, 1 MB = 1024 KB, etc. However, some systems use decimal prefixes (1 KB = 1000 bytes). Our calculator uses binary (1024-based) conversions which is standard for computing.
Download Speeds
Internet speeds are measured in bits (Mbps = megabits per second), while file sizes are in bytes (1 byte = 8 bits). A 10 Mbps connection actually downloads at ~1.25 MB/s. Our calculator handles this conversion automatically.
"A typical 4K movie (90 minutes) is about 15-20GB, requiring ~3 hours to download on a 100 Mbps connection. Compressed streaming versions may be just 5-8GB at slightly reduced quality."
File Size Estimation Guide
Media Files
Photos: 3-6MB (12MP JPEG), 15-30MB (RAW)
Music: 3-5MB per song (MP3), 20-30MB (FLAC)
Video: 100-200MB (HD 10min), 1-2GB (4K 10min)
eBooks: 1-5MB (text), 10-50MB (illustrated)
Applications
Mobile Apps: 30-300MB (average), 1-4GB (games)
Desktop Software: 50-500MB (utilities), 2-20GB (creative suites)
Games: 5-15GB (indie), 50-150GB (AAA titles)
OS Updates: 1-3GB (mobile), 3-6GB (desktop)
Storage Devices
USB Drives: 8-256GB (common), 1-2TB (high-end)
SSDs: 250GB-4TB (consumer), 8-32TB (enterprise)
HDDs: 1-10TB (desktop), 10-20TB (NAS/enterprise)
Cloud Storage: 5GB-2TB (free/paid), unlimited (business)
Pro Tip: When estimating storage needs, add 20-30% overhead for file system formatting, system files, and future growth. A "1TB" drive typically offers ~930GB usable space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my 1TB hard drive only showing 930GB?
Manufacturers use decimal (base 10) measurements where 1TB = 1,000GB, while computers use binary (base 2) where 1TB = 1,024GB. Additionally, some space is used by the file system and system files.
How do I calculate download time?
Convert file size to megabits (multiply MB by 8), then divide by your download speed in Mbps. Our calculator automates this: Time = (File Size in MB × 8) ÷ Download Speed in Mbps.
What's the difference between MB and MiB?
MB (megabyte) is 1,000KB (decimal), while MiB (mebibyte) is 1,024KiB (binary). Windows uses MB but calculates using binary, causing discrepancies. macOS uses decimal MB consistently.
How many photos can 64GB hold?
Approximately 10,000-20,000 JPEGs (3-6MB each) or 2,000-4,000 RAW files (15-30MB each). Actual capacity depends on resolution, compression, and camera settings.
Why is my download speed slower than my internet plan?
Internet speeds are advertised in megabits (Mb), while downloads show megabytes (MB). There's also overhead from protocols, network congestion, server limitations, and Wi-Fi interference.