CalcOpenly
English

Megabytes to gigabytes converter

Convert megabytes to gigabytes (MB to GB) with the exact factor, a conversion chart and worked steps.

Drafted with AI writing toolsUpdated Checked examples: 3

MB
Try
Gigabytes
GB
Gigabytes: 1.5 GB
Significant figures: 12; Nearest, ties away from zero
Conversion
1,500 MB = 1.5 GB
1 GB in megabytes
1,000MB

1,500 MB is about 1.5 GB. In the other direction, 1 GB ≈ 1,000 MB.

Megabytes to gigabytes

02.557.5102,0004,0006,0008,00010,000MBGB1,500 → 1.5
MB to GB chart Rows: 9
MegabytesGigabytes
1000.1
2500.25
5000.5
7500.75
10001
15001.5
20002
50005
1000010
How it's calculated S

  1. Conversion factor

    1 MB=0.001 GB1\ \text{MB} = 0.001\ \text{GB}

    Exact by definition.

  2. Multiply

    1,500×0.001=1.5 GB1{,}500 \times 0.001 = 1.5\ \text{GB}

About the megabytes to gigabytes converter

To convert megabytes to gigabytes, multiply by 0.001; to convert back, multiply by 1,000. For example, 1500 MB is about 1.5 GB. Displayed factors and results may be rounded.

Megabyte file sizes are useful for adding documents, photos or downloads before comparing them with a larger storage allowance. These are decimal MB. If a program reports MiB, select a binary conversion instead of assuming that a 1,024 multiplier applies here.

Storage makers use decimal prefixes (1 GB = 1,000 MB); some operating systems report binary units (1 GiB = 1,024 MiB).

Both units are defined exactly. Calculations use 50 significant digits and round only for display.

How to convert MB to GB

Divide the megabytes by 1,000: GB = MB ÷ 1,000. So 1,500 MB = 1.5 GB and 750 MB = 0.75 GB. These are decimal units, the way storage makers count: 1 MB is 1,000,000 bytes and 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes. Use it to total files before comparing them with a GB limit.

Moving the decimal point

Dividing by 1,000 moves the decimal point three places to the left:

  • 250 MB → 0.25 GB
  • 4,700 MB → 4.7 GB
  • 10,000 MB → 10 GB

Adding up file sizes

Total the sizes in MB first, then convert once. 350 photos of 4 MB each come to 1,400 MB; add a 600 MB video and the total is 2,000 MB, or 2 GB. You can type the whole sum as 350*4+600.

Tracking data use against a GB plan

Phones often show data used in MB while plans are sold in GB. 850 MB used is 0.85 GB, so a 2 GB plan has 1.15 GB left.

That assumes the provider counts 1,000 MB per GB. If its terms say 1,024, divide by 1,024 instead.

MB to GB chart

MegabytesGigabytes
1000.1
2500.25
5000.5
7500.75
10001
15001.5

When to divide by 1,024

Windows and some other systems count in binary units but still label them MB and GB. A binary megabyte (MiB) is 1,048,576 bytes, and 1 GiB is 1,024 MiB (NIST).

Divide by 1,024 only when both sizes come from a program that counts this way: 1,500 MiB is about 1.46 GiB. A binary gigabyte holds 7.4% more bytes than a decimal one, since 1 GiB = 1.073741824 GB.

Common mistakes

  • Dividing decimal MB by 1,024. 1,024 MB is 1.024 GB, not 1 GB. The 1,024 ratio belongs to MiB and GiB.
  • Confusing megabits with megabytes. A lowercase b means bits, and 1 MB = 8 Mb. An 80 Mb figure is only 10 MB, or 0.01 GB.
  • Treating a speed as a size. MB/s measures how fast data moves. To see how long a download of a given size takes, use the download time calculator.

For the reverse step, use GB to MB. The data storage converter handles MiB, GiB, kilobytes and bits, and Mbps to MB/s converts connection speeds.

Worked examples

1500 MB to GB

Megabytes (MB)
1500 MB
Gigabytes
1.5 GB

Checked against: Exact-fraction computation from the legal unit definitions

750 MB to GB

Megabytes (MB)
750 MB
Gigabytes
0.75 GB

Checked against: Exact-fraction computation from the legal unit definitions

5000 MB to GB

Megabytes (MB)
5000 MB
Gigabytes
5 GB

Checked against: Exact-fraction computation from the legal unit definitions

Questions

How many gigabytes are in one megabyte?

1 MB is about 0.001 GB. Storage makers use decimal prefixes (1 GB = 1,000 MB); some operating systems report binary units (1 GiB = 1,024 MiB).

How do I convert megabytes to gigabytes?

Multiply by 0.001: 1500 MB × 0.001 ≈ 1.5 GB. To convert back, divide by the same factor. The factor shown may be rounded.

Why does my computer show less space than the drive's label?

Drive makers count 1 GB as 1,000,000,000 bytes, while Windows and some other systems count in binary units of 1,073,741,824 bytes but still label them GB. A 1 TB drive therefore appears as about 931 GB (really 931 GiB).

About this calculator

GB=MB×0.001\text{GB} = \text{MB} \times 0.001

Sources

  1. NIST SP 811 (2008), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units, Appendix B
  2. NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General tables of units of measurement
  3. BIPM, The International System of Units (SI Brochure), 9th edition

Checked against references

This calculator includes 3 worked examples with independently sourced answers. They run in the test suite, and you can run them here too.

Put this calculator on your site

Paste this where you want the calculator to appear. It is free to use, it stays in step with corrections made here, and the credit line below it links back so your readers can find the full version.

Height
Preview the embed

Keep the credit line. It is the only condition, and it is what keeps these calculators free.

Related calculators