Megabytes to Gigabytes
One megabyte equals 0.001 gigabytes.
Gigabytes = megabytes ÷ 1000
Digital Storage Conversion
Common File Sizes
Digital Storage Reference Guide
Binary vs Decimal Systems
Binary (1024-based): Used by operating systems
1 KiB = 1,024 bytes
1 MiB = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
1 GiB = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
Decimal (1000-based): Used by storage manufacturers
1 KB = 1,000 bytes
1 MB = 1,000 KB = 1,000,000 bytes
1 GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
Storage Device Capacities
Floppy Disk: 1.44 MB
CD: 700 MB
DVD: 4.7 GB (single layer)
Blu-ray: 25 GB (single layer)
USB Flash: 8 GB - 1 TB
SSD: 120 GB - 8 TB
HDD: 500 GB - 20 TB
Enterprise: Up to 100 TB+
Data Transfer & Internet
Email attachment limit: ~25 MB
Streaming (HD): ~3 GB/hour
Streaming (4K): ~7 GB/hour
Web page: ~2 MB average
Mobile app: 10-200 MB
PC game: 20-150 GB
Important Notes
• 1 byte = 8 bits (fundamental relationship)
• Storage manufacturers use decimal, OS shows binary (explains "missing" space)
• Network speeds typically measured in bits per second (bps)
• File compression can significantly reduce storage requirements
Megabytes to Gigabytes Conversion Table
| MB | GB |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 50 | 0.05 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 250 | 0.25 |
| 500 | 0.5 |
| 750 | 0.75 |
| 1000 | 1 |
| 1024 | 1.024 |
| 1500 | 1.5 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 5000 | 5 |
| 10000 | 10 |
| 25000 | 25 |
| 50000 | 50 |
About This Conversion
Megabytes to gigabytes divides by 1,000 in the decimal units that storage and mobile data are sold in. A 500 MB app is 0.5 GB of a data plan, and a 25,000 MB download is 25 GB.
The 1,000 versus 1,024 question decides the answer. Storage capacities, file sizes reported by most tools and mobile data allowances are decimal, so 1,000 MB is 1 GB. Some operating systems still label binary units with decimal names, in which case they mean 1,024. When the two disagree by 2.4 percent, that is which convention is in play.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MB are in a GB?
In decimal units, 1 GB is 1,000 MB. In binary units, 1 GiB is 1,024 MiB.
How many GB is 500 MB?
500 MB is 0.5 GB.
How many GB is 1024 MB?
1,024 MB is 1.024 GB in decimal units, or exactly 1 GiB in binary units.
Is 1000 MB the same as 1 GB?
Yes in decimal units, which is what storage capacities and data plans use.
Worth Knowing
MB vs MiB
A megabyte is 1,000,000 bytes while a mebibyte is 1,048,576 bytes, and the gap grows with each prefix until a 1 TB drive reports as 931 GB.
Related Conversions
Converting the other way? Gigabytes to Megabytes
Need a different unit? Open the full digital storage converter