Your mobile package gives 10 GB, a video is 750 MB, and your phone says only 52 GB are free on a 64 GB device. Converting between MB and GB sounds easy, but there are two ways to do it, which explains many of these puzzles. This guide shows how to convert MB to GB, why 1,000 and 1,024 both appear, and how our free MB to GB Converter converter handles both.
The two systems
| System | 1 GB equals | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal (SI) | 1,000 MB | Storage makers, mobile operators, many apps |
| Binary | 1,024 MB | Windows and some software (strictly “GiB”) |
Technically, 1,024-based units are called kibibytes, mebibytes and gibibytes (KiB, MiB, GiB), but many programs still label them KB, MB and GB.
Formulas
GB (decimal) = MB ÷ 1,000
GB (binary) = MB ÷ 1,024
Examples
- 750 MB = 0.75 GB (decimal) or 0.73 GB (binary)
- 5,000 MB = 5 GB (decimal) or 4.88 GB (binary)
- 2 GB = 2,000 MB (decimal) or 2,048 MB (binary)
Why your new phone shows less space
A “64 GB” phone has 64 billion bytes. Displayed in binary units, that is about 59.6 GB. On top of that, the operating system and pre-installed apps use several gigabytes. That is why a new phone may show 50-something GB available.
Mobile data
Mobile operators usually count data in decimal units. Some typical uses:
| Activity | Approximate data |
|---|---|
| One hour of standard-definition video | a few hundred MB |
| One hour of HD video | 1 GB or more |
| A video call per hour | a few hundred MB to over 1 GB |
| Browsing and social media per hour | tens to hundreds of MB |
Actual use varies by app settings and quality. Read how much mobile data you need for planning a package.
File size limits
Email attachments and upload portals have limits, often in MB. If a file is too large, our Image Compressor reduces image sizes and the PDF Splitter breaks large PDFs into smaller parts.
Other units
1 GB = 1,000 MB; 1 TB = 1,000 GB (decimal). 1 MB = 1,000 KB. For binary units, replace 1,000 with 1,024.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 GB 1,000 MB or 1,024 MB?
Both are used: 1,000 in the decimal system and 1,024 in the binary system.
How many MB is 1.5 GB?
1,500 MB (decimal) or 1,536 MB (binary).
Why is my 128 GB phone showing less?
Binary display units and system files reduce the space shown as available.