MB to KB Storage Converter

By Suraj GiriUpdated 16 September 2026

In decimal storage units 1 MB is 1,000 kB, so multiply megabytes by 1,000 to get kilobytes. In binary units 1 MiB is 1,024 KiB.

This page converts storage from megabytes to kilobytes and leads with the decimal answer, because MB and kB carry SI prefixes, which stand strictly for powers of ten. The binary answer beside it is the count Windows File Explorer shows under the same kB label.

Going the other way? Convert KB back to MB →

How do you convert MB to KB?

MB to KB conversion multiplies by 1,000, because one megabyte is 1,000 kilobytes in the decimal prefixes; in binary units one mebibyte is 1,024 kibibytes, so the multiplier becomes 1,024.

1. Type the number of megabytes into the box at the top of the page.
2. Multiply it by 1,000, the number of kilobytes in one megabyte.
3. Read the decimal answer in kB, the reading the symbols MB and kB carry in the SI.
4. If the figure was counted in steps of 1,024, read the binary answer beside it instead: the same number multiplied by 1,024, in KiB.

Megabytes and kilobytes are two rungs of one ladder; to pick any two storage units, including the binary units, use the full storage converter.

MB to KB Conversion Table

Each row gives the decimal answer and, beside it, the binary answer for the same figure read as MiB. Every value in it is exact.

Worked Example: 2 MB to kB

The first question for this page, worked both ways. Each reading passes through bytes, which is where the two part company.

A megabyte is 1,000,000 bytes and a mebibyte is 1,048,576, so the same figure lands on two different byte counts before it is multiplied again.

Check it in reverse

Run each answer back through its own step and the starting figure returns: 2,000 kB / 1,000 = 2 MB, and 2,048 KiB / 1,024 = 2 MiB. To verify any other value, read the kilobytes back as megabytes and compare the result with the figure you started from.

Worked Examples: MB to KB

Each example gives the value first, then the working. Click a value to load it in the converter.

Every example above runs the other way too - turn each KB answer back into MB.

Where These Factors Come From

The factors and rules above are read from the knowledge base rather than typed for the page. These are the lines it holds for this pair.

• megabyte (decimal), factor to byte 1000000
• kilobyte (decimal), factor to byte 1000
• mebibyte, factor to byte 1048576
• kibibyte, factor to byte 1024
• SI Brochure (BIPM 9th edition) section 3, prefix rule The SI prefixes refer strictly to powers of 10. They should not be used to indicate powers of 2 (for example, one kilobit represents 1000 bits and not 1024 bits).
• How this page reports a result result in the target unit, decimal (SI) reading first and binary (IEC) reading beside it where the prefixes differ; printed in full where it fits in 10 significant figures, otherwise rounded to 10

Where Do KiB and MiB Come From?

The prefixes kibi (Ki), mebi (Mi), gibi (Gi) and tebi (Ti) stand for 2^10, 2^20, 2^30 and 2^40. The IEC first adopted them in 1999, as Amendment 2 to IEC 60027-2, and they are now part of IEC 80000-13.

The binary symbols add a lowercase i, so a figure written in KiB or MiB can only mean steps of a power of two. Windows File Explorer still prints the older labels, which is why this page gives both answers rather than guessing which one you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Conversions

• KB to GB divides by 1,000,000 - turn kilobytes into gigabytes.
• GB to KB multiplies by 1,000,000 - turn gigabytes into kilobytes.
• MB to GB divides by 1,000 - turn megabytes into gigabytes.
• GB to MB multiplies by 1,000 - turn gigabytes into megabytes.
• Bytes to bits multiplies by 8 - count the bits in a byte figure.
• Bits to bytes divides by 8 - group bits into bytes.

The other storage units, including bits and the binary units, are on one converter for every storage unit.