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Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from Kibibyte (KiB) to Gibibit (Gib), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Kibibit (Kib) and Kibibyte (KiB).
Let's convert 5 Kibibyte (KiB) to Gibibit (Gib).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Kibibyte (KiB) is equal to Gibibit (Gib).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Kibibyte (KiB) to Gibibit (Gib):
| Kibibytes | Gibibits |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 KiB | Gib |
| 0.001 KiB | Gib |
| 0.1 KiB | Gib |
| 1 KiB | Gib |
| 2 KiB | Gib |
| 3 KiB | Gib |
| 4 KiB | Gib |
| 5 KiB | Gib |
| 6 KiB | Gib |
| 7 KiB | Gib |
| 8 KiB | Gib |
| 9 KiB | Gib |
| 10 KiB | Gib |
| 20 KiB | Gib |
| 30 KiB | Gib |
| 40 KiB | Gib |
| 50 KiB | Gib |
| 100 KiB | Gib |
| 1000 KiB | Gib |
| 10000 KiB | Gib |
For all Digital converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A kibibyte (KiB) is a unit of digital information established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
It was created to provide a more precise way to measure data storage and eliminate common confusion with a similar-sounding unit, the kilobyte.
The core difference lies in the number system they use: binary vs. decimal.
A kibibyte (KiB) represents exactly 1,024 bytes. This number comes from the binary system (or base-2 math) that computers use, as it's a power of two (210).
In contrast, a kilobyte (KB) is often used, especially in marketing for storage devices, to mean exactly 1,000 bytes. This is based on the decimal system (or base-10 math) we use every day.
This difference is why the kibibyte was created: to offer a clear and unambiguous term for the binary-based measurements that computers and operating systems actually use.
To put it simply:
Kilobyte (KB)
Kibibyte (KiB)
Before 1998, the term "kilobyte" was ambiguously used to refer to both 1,000 and 1,024 bytes, which confused consumers and programmers alike.
To solve this problem, the IEC officially introduced a new set of prefixes specifically for binary measurements.
This new standard gave us the kibi (for kibibyte), mebi (for mebibyte, MiB), and gibi (for gibibyte, GiB), creating a transparent and standardized system for measuring data in the way computers actually "think."
Have you ever bought a 1 terabyte (TB) hard drive, only to plug it in and see your computer report it as having around 931 gigabytes (GB) of space?
You haven't been short-changed or lost any storage—it's just a difference in measurement systems.
Here's what's happening:
Ultimately, no storage is lost. It's like the difference between miles and kilometers—the distance is the same, you're just using a different unit to measure it.
A gibibit (Gib) is a unit for measuring digital information, like file sizes or memory capacity, that is based on powers of two.
Standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), one gibibit is equal to 1,048,576 kibibits (Kib). The plural form is gibibits.
A common point of confusion is the difference between a gibibit (Gib) and a gigabit (Gb). The main difference lies in how they are counted.
A gibibit follows the binary (base-2) system, which is the language computers use. It represents 230 bits, or 1,073,741,824 bits.
In contrast, a gigabit is based on the decimal (base-10) system and represents exactly 1 billion bits (109).
Because of this, one gibibit is about 7.4% larger than one gigabit. This distinction is crucial for accurately understanding data storage capacity and transfer speeds.
Here's a quick breakdown:
Gibibit (Gib)
Gigabit (Gb)
The gibibit is most frequently used in technical fields where precision in binary measurement is essential.
You will often see it in:
Using this IEC standard unit ensures that programmers and engineers are working with exact binary measurements.
The term "gibibit" was officially established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 1998. It was introduced to solve the confusion caused by using metric prefixes (like "giga") for both binary and decimal multiples.
The name "gibibit" is derived from combining "giga" and "binary," creating the "gibi" prefix to clearly signal a base-2 measurement. This standardization helps create clarity across the global technology industry.