Convert network speeds between bits (bps) and Bytes (B/s)
bits per second (bps)
Kilobits per second (Kbps)
Megabits per second (Mbps)
Gigabits per second (Gbps)
Terabits per second (Tbps)
Bytes per second (B/s)
Kilobytes per second (KB/s)
Megabytes per second (MB/s)
Gigabytes per second (GB/s)
Terabytes per second (TB/s)
bits per second (bps)
Kilobits per second (Kbps)
Megabits per second (Mbps)
Gigabits per second (Gbps)
Terabits per second (Tbps)
Bytes per second (B/s)
Kilobytes per second (KB/s)
Megabytes per second (MB/s)
Gigabytes per second (GB/s)
Terabytes per second (TB/s)
Converted Speed:
0 MB/s
Calculation details will appear here.
Understanding Data Rate Conversions
Whether you are configuring a network, estimating file download times, or comparing Internet Service Provider (ISP) plans, understanding the difference between bits and Bytes is crucial. This calculator helps you bridge the gap between network speeds (usually measured in bits) and file transfer speeds (usually measured in Bytes).
Bits (b) vs. Bytes (B)
The most common source of confusion in data rates is the difference between a lowercase 'b' and an uppercase 'B'.
Bit (b): The smallest unit of data. Network speeds are typically advertised in bits per second (e.g., Mbps or Gbps).
Byte (B): Consists of 8 bits. File sizes and download speeds on your computer are typically displayed in Bytes per second (e.g., MB/s).
Rule of Thumb: To convert from network speed (Mbps) to download speed (MB/s), divide by 8.
Common Unit Prefixes (SI Standard)
In the context of data communication and network speeds, the decimal (SI) system is standard:
Prefix
Symbol
Multiplier
Example
Kilo
k
1,000 (103)
1 kbps = 1,000 bps
Mega
M
1,000,000 (106)
1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bps
Giga
G
1,000,000,000 (109)
1 Gbps = 1,000,000,000 bps
Real-World Examples
Scenario 1: The Gigabit Internet Plan
If you purchase a "1 Gig" (1 Gbps) fiber connection, your theoretical maximum download speed is not 1 Gigabyte per second. Since there are 8 bits in a Byte, the math is: 1,000 Mbps ÷ 8 = 125 MB/s.
Scenario 2: Streaming 4K Video
A typical 4K stream might require a bitrate of 25 Mbps. If you want to know how much data that consumes in a second in Megabytes: 25 Mbps ÷ 8 = 3.125 MB/s.
function convertDataRate() {
// 1. Get input elements
var valueInput = document.getElementById("dataValue");
var fromUnitSelect = document.getElementById("fromUnit");
var toUnitSelect = document.getElementById("toUnit");
var resultArea = document.getElementById("result-area");
var finalResult = document.getElementById("finalResult");
var explanationText = document.getElementById("explanationText");
// 2. Parse values
var val = parseFloat(valueInput.value);
var fromFactor = parseFloat(fromUnitSelect.value);
var toFactor = parseFloat(toUnitSelect.value);
// 3. Validation
if (isNaN(val) || val < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for the data rate.");
return;
}
// 4. Calculation Logic
// Convert input to base unit (bits per second – bps)
var baseBits = val * fromFactor;
// Convert base unit to target unit
var convertedValue = baseBits / toFactor;
// 5. Formatting the Output
// Use meaningful precision: up to 4 decimal places, strip trailing zeros
var displayValue = parseFloat(convertedValue.toFixed(4));
// Get text labels for units
var fromLabel = fromUnitSelect.options[fromUnitSelect.selectedIndex].text;
var toLabel = toUnitSelect.options[toUnitSelect.selectedIndex].text;
// Short unit codes (e.g., extract 'Mbps' from 'Megabits per second (Mbps)')
var toUnitShort = toLabel.match(/\(([^)]+)\)/)[1];
var fromUnitShort = fromLabel.match(/\(([^)]+)\)/)[1];
// 6. Display Result
resultArea.style.display = "block";
finalResult.innerHTML = displayValue + " " + toUnitShort + "";
// 7. Dynamic Explanation
var explanation = "Formula: " + val + " " + fromUnitShort + " × " + fromFactor + " (base factor) ÷ " + toFactor + " (target factor) = " + displayValue + " " + toUnitShort;
// Add context for bit-to-byte conversion specifically
if (fromLabel.indexOf("bit") !== -1 && toLabel.indexOf("Byte") !== -1) {
explanation += "Note: You are converting from bits to Bytes. Remember that 8 bits = 1 Byte.";
} else if (fromLabel.indexOf("Byte") !== -1 && toLabel.indexOf("bit") !== -1) {
explanation += "Note: You are converting from Bytes to bits. Remember that 1 Byte = 8 bits.";
}
explanationText.innerHTML = explanation;
}