Bytes to KB: Convert Bytes to Kilobytes

To convert bytes to kilobytes, divide by 1,000 for the decimal (SI) result or by 1,024 for the binary result, which is properly called a kibibyte (KiB). So 204,800 bytes is 204.8 KB decimal and exactly 200 KiB binary. Storage vendors and network figures use 1,000; Windows, Linux and RAM use 1,024.

Bytes

1.0000e+12

KB (10³)

1.0000e+9

MB (10⁶)

1.0000e+6

GB (10⁹)

1,000

TB (10¹²)

1

KiB (2¹⁰)

9.7656e+8

MiB (2²⁰)

953,674.3164

GiB (2³⁰)

931.3226

TiB (2⁴⁰)

0.9095

Bits

8.0000e+12

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The formula

KB = bytes ÷ 1,000 (decimal, SI) or KiB = bytes ÷ 1,024 (binary, IEC). Going the other way, bytes = KB × 1,000 or KiB × 1,024. The two results differ by 2.4%, which is invisible for small files and significant for quotas, billing and capacity plans.

Which one should you use?

Use the decimal definition when you are talking to a storage vendor, sizing a cloud bill, or reading a network throughput figure. Use the binary definition when you are reading an operating-system file listing, sizing memory, or setting a limit that a programming language will enforce. If a value could be misread, state the unit precisely — write KiB rather than KB — or specify the raw byte count in the ticket and the code.

Bytes to KB conversion table

BytesDecimal (KB)Binary (KiB)
10.001 KB0.00098 KiB
5120.512 KB0.5 KiB
1,0001 KB0.977 KiB
1,0241.024 KB1 KiB
10,24010.24 KB10 KiB
102,400102.4 KB100 KiB
204,800204.8 KB200 KiB
1,048,5761,048.576 KB1,024 KiB (1 MiB)

Frequently asked questions

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