Conversions: Bandwidth & Data Rate
Convert between bits and bytes per second, move across K/M/G/T prefixes, and estimate download time for a file. Everything in one place for networking, IT and media delivery.
Enter any bandwidth / data rate
Remember: 1 byte = 8 bits
Result: Mbps
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Result: MB/s
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Result: Gbps
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File transfer time
Use the value from above if needed
Estimated time
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Idealized, no protocol overhead
Core formulas
1 byte = 8 bits
1 kbps = 1,000 bps
1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bps
MB/s = (Mbps ÷ 8)
Transfer time (s) = File size (bits) ÷ Bandwidth (bits/s)
Some vendors use binary multipliers (KiB, MiB). Here we stick to decimal prefixes (k = 1000, M = 10⁶) because that’s what ISPs and most speed tests use.
Common data rate conversions
| Given | Mbps | MB/s | Gbps |
|---|
Useful for video delivery, backups, hosting, CDN dimensioning.
Bandwidth, data rate, throughput: what’s the difference?
Bandwidth is the theoretical maximum capacity of a link (e.g. 1 Gbps fiber). Throughput is what you actually get after protocol overhead, latency, congestion, encryption and so on. Data rate is the speed at which data is transmitted, often used interchangeably with bandwidth in casual contexts.
Why do browsers show MB/s but ISPs sell Mbps?
Your operating system and many download managers show bytes per second because files are counted in bytes (MB, GB). ISPs and network engineers speak in bits per second. That’s why the divide-by-8 step is so common.
Tips
- To go from Mbps → MB/s, divide by 8.
- To go from MB/s → Mbps, multiply by 8.
- Always check if a tool uses 1000 or 1024 multipliers.
FAQ
1. Can I add overhead?
This tool shows ideal values. Real downloads may be 5–15% slower depending on protocol (TCP), VPN, Wi-Fi quality.
2. Does latency affect these numbers?
Latency doesn’t change the raw bandwidth conversion, but it affects perceived throughput — especially for single, long-distance TCP flows.