Bits to Bytes Converter
Convert bits to bytes instantly. One bit equals exactly 0.125 bytes. Type in either box to convert both ways, then use the chart, worked examples and everyday sizes below.
How to convert bits to bytes
Worked example: convert 4 bits to bytes. Using bytes ← bits ÷ 8, we get 4 × 0.125 = 0.5 B. To check the result, convert back: 0.5 B ÷ 0.125 = 4 bit.
Bits to bytes chart
| Bits (bit) | Bytes (B) |
|---|---|
| 1 bit | 0.125 B |
| 2 bit | 0.25 B |
| 3 bit | 0.375 B |
| 4 bit | 0.5 B |
| 5 bit | 0.625 B |
| 6 bit | 0.75 B |
| 8 bit | 1 B |
| 10 bit | 1.25 B |
| 12 bit | 1.5 B |
| 15 bit | 1.875 B |
| 20 bit | 2.5 B |
| 25 bit | 3.125 B |
| 30 bit | 3.75 B |
| 40 bit | 5 B |
| 50 bit | 6.25 B |
| 75 bit | 9.375 B |
| 100 bit | 12.5 B |
| 150 bit | 18.75 B |
| 200 bit | 25 B |
| 250 bit | 31.25 B |
| 500 bit | 62.5 B |
| 1,000 bit | 125 B |
Bytes to bits (reverse)
| Bytes (B) | Bits (bit) |
|---|---|
| 1 B | 8 bit |
| 2 B | 16 bit |
| 5 B | 40 bit |
| 10 B | 80 bit |
| 20 B | 160 bit |
| 50 B | 400 bit |
| 100 B | 800 bit |
| 250 B | 2,000 bit |
| 500 B | 4,000 bit |
| 1,000 B | 8,000 bit |
About the bit and the byte
A bit is a single binary 0 or 1. Network speeds are quoted in bits per second while file sizes are quoted in bytes, which is why a 100 Mbps connection downloads at most 12.5 MB per second.
A byte is 8 bits and the basic unit of digital storage; one plain English character takes one byte. File sizes below 1 KB are shown in bytes.
One byte equals 8 bits, which makes the byte the larger unit of the two.
Everyday sizes in bits and bytes
| Everyday example (approximate) | In bits | In bytes |
|---|---|---|
| A short text message | 1,120 bit | 140 B |
| A plain-text email | 40,000 bit | 5,000 B |
| A web page | 16,000,000 bit | 2,000,000 B |
| A phone photo | 24,000,000 bit | 3,000,000 B |
| A 3-minute MP3 song | 40,000,000 bit | 5,000,000 B |
| A 2-hour HD movie | 24,000,000,000 bit | 3,000,000,000 B |
Bits to bytes FAQ
How many bytes are in one bit?
One bit equals exactly 0.125 bytes. In the other direction, one byte equals 8 bits.
How do I convert bits to bytes without a calculator?
convert 4 bits to bytes. Using bytes ← bits ÷ 8, we get 4 × 0.125 = 0.5 B. To check the result, convert back: 0.5 B ÷ 0.125 = 4 bit. For a quick estimate, round the factor to 0.12. Then 4 bit is about 0.48 B, compared with the exact 0.5 B (an error of 4%). That is close enough for planning, but use the calculator above when the number matters.
What is a 2-hour HD movie in bytes?
A 2-hour HD movie is about 24,000,000,000 bits, which is 3,000,000,000 bytes. Treat that as an approximate everyday figure rather than an official measurement.
Are the bits and bytes the same in every country?
A bit is exactly one eighth of a byte. A byte is 8 bits everywhere.