Kilobytes to Megabytes Converter (KB to MB)
Instantly convert between kilobytes and megabytes using this precise tool. Essential for IT professionals, software developers, and data storage applications. 100% free with no registration required.
Conversion Formula
1 megabyte (MB) = 1024 kilobytes (KB)
To convert kilobytes to megabytes:
megabytes = kilobytes ÷ 1024
Example: 2048 KB ÷ 1024 = 2 MB
Kilobytes to Megabytes Conversion Table
| Kilobytes (KB) | Megabytes (MB) |
|---|---|
| 512 KB | 0.5 MB |
| 1024 KB | 1 MB |
| 2048 KB | 2 MB |
| 3072 KB | 3 MB |
| 5120 KB | 5 MB |
| 10,240 KB | 10 MB |
| 20,480 KB | 20 MB |
| 51,200 KB | 50 MB |
| 102,400 KB | 100 MB |
| 512,000 KB | 500 MB |
| 1,024,000 KB | 1,000 MB |
Practical Examples
- Small photo: 2048 KB = 2 MB (JPEG image)
- Song file: 4096 KB = 4 MB (MP3 audio)
- Document: 512 KB = 0.5 MB (PDF file)
Professional Applications
- Web development: File size optimization and bandwidth calculations
- System administration: Storage capacity planning and monitoring
- Database management: Data size estimation and backup planning
- Mobile development: App size constraints and download limits
Definition and Background
What is a Kilobyte?
A kilobyte (KB) is a digital storage unit equal to 1024 bytes in the binary system. The name comes from:
- Greek “kilo”: meaning thousand (though actually 1024 in binary)
- English “byte”: a unit of digital information
What is a Megabyte?
The megabyte (MB) is a digital storage unit equal to 1024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes. It was commonly used to describe:
- File sizes for documents, images, and small media files
- Memory capacity in early computer systems
Digital Storage Hierarchy
| Unit | Symbol | Bytes |
|---|---|---|
| Byte | B | 1 B |
| Kilobyte | KB | 1,024 B |
| Megabyte | MB | 1,048,576 B |
| Gigabyte | GB | 1,073,741,824 B |
| Terabyte | TB | 1,099,511,627,776 B |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 1 MB equal to 1024 KB and not 1000 KB?
Computer systems use binary (base-2) calculations where 1024 (2^10) is used instead of 1000 (10^3) for more efficient data processing.
What’s the difference between KB and MB in file sizes?
KB is suitable for small files like text documents, while MB is used for larger files like images, audio, and small videos.
When should I use kilobytes vs megabytes?
Use KB for files under 1000 KB, and MB for larger files. MB provides cleaner numbers for file sizes over 1024 KB.
Are KB and MB used in internet speed measurements?
Internet speeds typically use bits (Kb, Mb) rather than bytes (KB, MB), where 1 byte = 8 bits.