Data Transfer Rate Converter

About This Tool

This Data Transfer Rate Converter is an essential utility for IT professionals, network engineers, and anyone interested in internet speeds and computer hardware performance. It converts between different units of data transfer speed. The base unit is the bit per second (b/s).

The tool clarifies the crucial difference between bits and bytes, and between the decimal (SI) and binary (JEDEC) definitions of prefixes like 'kilo' and 'mega', which is a common source of confusion when comparing internet speeds with file download sizes.

Tips & Features

• Bit vs. Byte: A bit is the most basic unit of data (a 0 or 1). A byte is a group of 8 bits. Internet speeds are typically measured in bits per second (e.g., Mbps), while file sizes are measured in bytes (e.g., MB). This means a 100 Mbps connection can download a maximum of 12.5 megabytes per second (100 / 8).
• Decimal (SI) vs. Binary (JEDEC): In networking, prefixes are often decimal (SI): 1 kilobit = 1,000 bits. For file storage, prefixes are often binary (JEDEC): 1 kilobyte = 1,024 bytes. This tool includes both to allow for accurate conversions in either context.
• Standard Speeds: The converter includes common standards like Ethernet, USB, and legacy modem speeds to provide context for different transfer rates.