Network Speed Converter
Convert between bits per second and bytes per second units
All Conversions
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| bits per second (bps) | 100,000,000 |
| Kilobits per second (Kbps) | 100,000 |
| Megabits per second (Mbps) | 100 |
| Gigabits per second (Gbps) | 0.100000 |
| Terabits per second (Tbps) | 0.000100000 |
| Bytes per second (B/s) | 12,500,000 |
| Kilobytes per second (KB/s) | 12,500 |
| Megabytes per second (MB/s) | 12.5 |
| Gigabytes per second (GB/s) | 0.0125000 |
| Terabytes per second (TB/s) | 0.0000125000 |
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Understanding Network Speed Units
Network speeds are measured in bits per second, while file sizes are measured in bytes. Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, you need to divide your network speed by 8 to get the actual file transfer rate.
This is why a 100 Mbps (megabits per second) internet connection only downloads files at about 12.5 MB/s (megabytes per second). Internet Service Providers (ISPs) advertise speeds in Mbps because the numbers look larger.
Common Speed Tiers
| ISP Plan | Actual Transfer | 1 GB Download |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mbps | 3.125 MB/s | ~5 min 20 sec |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s | ~1 min 20 sec |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s | ~16 sec |
| 1 Gbps | 125 MB/s | ~8 sec |
| 10 Gbps | 1.25 GB/s | ~0.8 sec |
Key Concepts
- Mbps (Megabits per second) — Used by ISPs to advertise internet speeds. 1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits per second.
- MB/s (Megabytes per second) — Used by operating systems and download managers to show file transfer speeds. 1 MB/s = 8 Mbps.
- Gbps (Gigabits per second) — Used for high-speed connections like fiber optic and data center links. 1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my download speed lower than my internet plan?
ISPs advertise speeds in megabits per second (Mbps), but your browser and OS show downloads in megabytes per second (MB/s). Since 1 byte = 8 bits, divide your plan speed by 8. A 100 Mbps plan gives you approximately 12.5 MB/s actual download speed. Additional factors like network congestion, Wi-Fi overhead, and server limitations can further reduce speeds.
What's the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps stands for megabits per second (lowercase 'b' for bits), while MB/s stands for megabytes per second (uppercase 'B' for bytes). Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 MB/s = 8 Mbps. ISPs use Mbps because the numbers appear larger, while file managers use MB/s because it directly relates to file sizes.
Is Mbps the same as MBps?
No! The capitalization matters. Mbps (with lowercase 'b') means megabits per second, while MBps (with uppercase 'B') means megabytes per second. MBps is 8 times larger than Mbps. Always check the capitalization when comparing speeds.
How fast is 1 Gbps in MB/s?
1 Gbps (gigabit per second) equals 125 MB/s (megabytes per second). This is because 1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps, and dividing by 8 gives you 125 MB/s. At this speed, you could download a 1 GB file in about 8 seconds.
What internet speed do I need for 4K streaming?
Netflix recommends at least 25 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD streaming per device. YouTube recommends 20 Mbps. If you have multiple devices streaming simultaneously, multiply accordingly. A household with 3 devices streaming 4K would need at least 75 Mbps, though 100+ Mbps provides a comfortable buffer for other activities.
Why is my Wi-Fi speed slower than my wired connection?
Wi-Fi introduces overhead from protocol negotiation, encryption, interference from other devices, walls, and distance from the router. A typical Wi-Fi 6 connection achieves about 60-70% of your wired speed. Wi-Fi 5 achieves about 40-60%. For maximum speed, always use a wired Ethernet connection when possible.
What does bandwidth vs throughput mean?
Bandwidth is the maximum theoretical capacity of your connection (what your ISP advertises). Throughput is the actual data transfer rate you achieve in practice. Throughput is always lower than bandwidth due to protocol overhead, network congestion, server limitations, and distance. Think of bandwidth as the width of a highway and throughput as the actual traffic flow.
How do I convert Kbps to Mbps?
Divide Kbps by 1,000 to get Mbps. For example, 5,000 Kbps = 5 Mbps. Similarly, multiply Mbps by 1,000 to get Kbps. This uses the decimal (SI) standard where 1 Mega = 1,000 Kilo. Note that some older systems use 1,024 as the multiplier (binary), but the networking industry standardized on 1,000.