A terabyte (TB) is 1,000 gigabytes (GB) in the decimal standard that storage makers use, so 1 TB equals 1,000 GB. The converter below changes any value between bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes, and lets you pick the decimal (1000) or binary (1024) base. Everything is calculated in your browser, so nothing you type is sent anywhere.
What Terabytes and Gigabytes Are
A byte is the base unit of digital storage, large enough to hold a single character of text. Each step up the scale multiplies the size: a kilobyte is many bytes, a megabyte is many kilobytes, a gigabyte is many megabytes, and a terabyte is many gigabytes. A gigabyte is the unit most people use to size phone storage, video files, and memory, while a terabyte is the unit used for hard drives, solid-state drives, and backups. A petabyte sits one step above a terabyte and shows up in data centers. The exact multiplier between each step is either 1,000 or 1,024, depending on which standard you apply.
How to Use It
- Type the value you want to convert into the Value field.
- Set the From menu to the unit you are starting with. It defaults to TB.
- Set the To menu to the unit you want. It defaults to GB.
- Pick the Standard: Decimal (1000) for drive labels, or Binary (1024) for what your operating system reports.
- Read the result at the top, and check the list below for the same value shown in every unit at once.
Decimal 1000 Versus Binary 1024
There are two ways to count the steps between data units, and the difference explains a question many people ask: why a new 1 TB drive shows up as about 931 GB in the operating system. Storage manufacturers use the decimal standard, where 1 TB equals 1,000 GB and 1 GB equals 1,000 MB. Most operating systems, including Windows, measure the same drive in binary units, where 1 GB equals 1,024 MB. The drive holds exactly what the box says in decimal terms, but when the system divides those bytes by 1,024 at each step, the number it displays comes out smaller.
TB to GB Examples
| Terabytes (TB) | Gigabytes (GB), decimal 1000 | Gigabytes (GB), binary 1024 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 TB | 500 GB | 512 GB |
| 1 TB | 1,000 GB | 1,024 GB |
| 2 TB | 2,000 GB | 2,048 GB |
| 4 TB | 4,000 GB | 4,096 GB |
| 8 TB | 8,000 GB | 8,192 GB |
| 10 TB | 10,000 GB | 10,240 GB |
When to Use It
Reach for this converter when you are comparing drive sizes, planning a backup, or working out how many gigabytes a terabyte plan really gives you. It also helps when a cloud service quotes storage in one unit and your device reports it in another. Because it converts in both directions and across every unit from bytes to petabytes, you can use it to read a file size, size a memory upgrade, or check why two tools report different numbers for the same disk.
Last Thoughts on Converting TB to GB
Converting terabytes to gigabytes comes down to one choice: which standard you are using. In the decimal standard that storage labels follow, you multiply by 1,000, so 1 TB is 1,000 GB. In the binary standard your operating system uses, you multiply by 1,024 instead. Once you know which one applies, the math is simple, and this tool handles both so you never have to guess.
Run the numbers for your own drive, and switch the standard to see why the label and the system report differ. For the reverse direction see our GB to TB converter, for smaller files try the MB to GB converter, and explore the rest of our free online tools.
Key Takeaways:
- In the decimal standard used on storage labels, 1 TB equals 1,000 GB; to convert TB to GB, multiply by 1,000.
- In the binary standard used by most operating systems, 1 TB equals 1,024 GB.
- A new 1 TB drive shows about 931 GB in the operating system because the system divides by 1,024 at each step while the label uses 1,000. No space is lost.
- This converter handles bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes in both directions.
- Everything is calculated in your browser, so nothing you enter is sent to a server.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many GB are in 1 TB?
In the decimal standard that storage manufacturers use, 1 TB equals 1,000 GB. In the binary standard that most operating systems use to report sizes, 1 TB equals 1,024 GB. Both describe the same drive using different math.
How do I convert TB to GB?
Multiply the number of terabytes by 1,000 for the decimal standard, or by 1,024 for the binary standard. For example, 3 TB is 3,000 GB in decimal or 3,072 GB in binary. The converter above does this for you in both directions.
Why does my 1 TB drive show only 931 GB?
The drive holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which is 1 TB in decimal terms. Your operating system divides that by 1,024 at each step to reach gigabytes, which gives about 931 GB. No storage is missing; the label and the system simply count in different units.
Is 1024 GB equal to 1 TB?
Yes, in the binary standard. There, 1 TB equals 1,024 GB. In the decimal standard used on packaging, 1 TB equals 1,000 GB. Choose the Binary (1024) option in the tool to match what your operating system reports.
Which standard should I use, 1000 or 1024?
Use decimal (1000) when you are reading or comparing drive labels, plans, and marketing figures. Use binary (1024) when you want the number to match what Windows or another operating system displays for the same drive.
Does this converter send my data anywhere?
No. Every conversion runs inside your browser, so the values you enter are never uploaded, logged, or stored on any server. You can confirm this by disconnecting from the internet and watching the tool still work.
