Data Transfer Rate Converter
Convert internet and bus speeds between bits and bytes units.
What it does
Internet plans quote bits, downloads show bytes. A 100 Mbps plan moves 100 million bits per second, which is 12.5 million bytes per second. Mixing the two understates or overstates speed by eight times.
The tool above converts among bps, kbps, Mbps, Gbps, and byte versions. The defaults convert 100 Mbps to MBps, so the page opens showing 12.5 MBps. Pick new units to update the result and the full list.
Two rules drive all factors. One byte is exactly 8 bits. SI prefixes here use 1000: kilo is 1000, mega is 1000000, giga is 1000000000. That matches telecom rates. Storage chips sometimes use 1024, which this rate tool does not.
Use bits for links, bytes for files. Divide bits by 8 for bytes. A 12.5 MBps link pulls a 100 MB file in about 8 seconds before overhead. Overhead, Wi-Fi loss, and server limits cut real throughput below the headline rate.
This page shows the factors, one full hand checked example at 100 Mbps, a reference table, and practice checks that run through the tool.
How to use
- Type the rate number, for example 100.
- Pick the starting unit in From unit, for example Mbps.
- Pick the target unit in To unit, for example MBps.
- Read the main result with unit name.
- Scan the note line for the same rate in all eight units.
- Check case: Mbps is bits, MBps is bytes.
Formula
- bps
- Bits per second, base unit.
- MBps
- Megabytes per second. 1 MBps = 8000000 bps.
- 1000
- Decimal prefix used for telecom rates here.
Lowercase b marks bits, uppercase B marks bytes in the labels. For 1024 based storage sizes use a data storage converter instead of this rate tool.
Worked example
Example: 100 Mbps to MBps
A plan offers 100 megabits per second. Express in megabytes per second.
- Write 100, from Mbps, to MBps.
- Base: 100 x 1000000 = 100000000 bps.
- Target factor: 1 MBps = 8000000 bps.
- Divide: 100000000 / 8000000 = 12.5 MBps.
- Check: 12.5 x 8 = 100, the starting megabits.
- Siblings: 100000 kbps and 0.1 Gbps.
Reference table
| Unit | bps per unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bps | 1 | Base |
| kbps | 1000 | Decimal kilo |
| Mbps | 1000000 | Plan quotes |
| Gbps | 1000000000 | Fiber quotes |
| Bps | 8 | Bytes |
| MBps | 8000000 | Download shows |
| GBps | 8000000000 | Fast buses |
Limits
- Decimal 1000 prefixes only. No 1024 kibi forms here.
- Raw rate only. Overhead and loss cut payload speed.
- No duplex or latency model. Speed is not responsiveness.
- Four decimals suit plans. Backbone math may need more.
Common mistakes
- Reading Mbps as MBps, off by eight times.
- Using 1024 for telecom kilo instead of 1000.
- Comparing Wi-Fi link rate with internet payload rate.
- Ignoring overhead when timing a download.
- Typing commas as thousand separators in the value box.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
1 Gbps in Mbps?
1000 Mbps.
50 MBps in Mbps?
400 Mbps.
Questions
Mbps or MBps?
Mbps is megabits, MBps is megabytes. Divide bits by 8 for bytes.
100 Mbps in MBps?
12.5 MBps.
Why 1000 not 1024?
Telecom uses decimal SI. Storage chips often use 1024 binaries.
How long for 100 MB at 12.5 MBps?
About 8 seconds plus overhead.
Does this include overhead?
No. Headers, retries, and Wi-Fi contention lower payload speed.
What about Gbps?
1 Gbps is 1000 Mbps or 125 MBps.