Network Speed Unit Converter

Convert between all network speed units instantly. Type a value in any field and all other fields update in real time. Supports bits per second (bps, Kbps, Mbps, Gbps) and bytes per second (Bps, KBps, MBps, GBps) — the two unit families that cause the most confusion in networking.

Bits Per Second (Network Speeds)

bps Kbps Mbps Gbps Tbps

Bytes Per Second (File Transfer)

Bps KBps MBps GBps

Understanding Network Speed Units

Network speed units come in two families: bits (used by ISPs and network hardware) and bytes (used by operating systems and file managers). The difference — a factor of 8 — is the most common source of confusion when comparing advertised internet speeds to actual file download rates.

When your ISP advertises 100 Mbps (megabits per second), your maximum download speed is 12.5 MBps (megabytes per second). This is why a file download on a "100 Mbps" connection maxes out around 12 MB/s. Test your actual speed with our Speed Test.

Bits vs Bytes Conversion Table

Bits (Network)	Bytes (Files)	Relationship
8 bps	1 Bps	8 bits = 1 byte
1 Kbps (1,000 bps)	125 Bps	÷ 8
1 Mbps (1,000,000 bps)	125 KBps	÷ 8
10 Mbps	1.25 MBps	÷ 8
100 Mbps	12.5 MBps	÷ 8
1 Gbps (1,000,000,000 bps)	125 MBps	÷ 8
10 Gbps	1.25 GBps	÷ 8

Common ISP Plan Speeds and Real Download Rates

Here's what your ISP plan speed translates to in real-world file download speeds. Compare with your actual results from our ISP Speed Checker:

ISP Plan	Max Download Rate	1 GB File	10 GB Game	50 GB Game
25 Mbps	3.1 MBps	5 min 20 sec	53 min	4 hr 27 min
50 Mbps	6.25 MBps	2 min 40 sec	27 min	2 hr 13 min
100 Mbps	12.5 MBps	1 min 20 sec	13 min	1 hr 7 min
300 Mbps	37.5 MBps	27 sec	4 min 27 sec	22 min
500 Mbps	62.5 MBps	16 sec	2 min 40 sec	13 min
1 Gbps	125 MBps	8 sec	1 min 20 sec	7 min

For precise download time calculations, use our File Transfer Calculator. To check if you're getting your plan's full speed, try our ISP Speed Checker.

Pro Tip: Remember the quick conversion: divide Mbps by 8 to get MBps. So 100 Mbps ÷ 8 = 12.5 MBps. When your file manager shows 12 MB/s on a 100 Mbps connection, you're actually getting full speed. Lowercase 'b' always means bits; uppercase 'B' always means bytes.

Network Speed Unit Prefixes

Network speeds use decimal (SI) prefixes, not binary. This differs from storage units, which sometimes use binary prefixes (KiB, MiB, GiB):

Prefix	Symbol	Decimal Value	Example
Kilo	K	1,000 (10³)	1 Kbps = 1,000 bps
Mega	M	1,000,000 (10⁶)	1 Mbps = 1,000 Kbps
Giga	G	1,000,000,000 (10⁹)	1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps
Tera	T	1,000,000,000,000 (10¹²)	1 Tbps = 1,000 Gbps

Note: ISPs and networking hardware universally use bits per second (Mbps, Gbps). Operating systems and file managers display transfer rates in bytes per second (MBps, GBps). This 8x difference is not deceptive — it's two different units measuring the same thing, just as kilometers and miles measure the same distances differently. Use our What Is My IP tool to check your connection details alongside speed.

Where Each Unit Is Used

bps / Kbps — Serial connections, IoT sensors, very low bandwidth links
Mbps — ISP plan speeds, Wi-Fi specifications, router throughput ratings, speed tests
Gbps — Fiber connections, Ethernet standards (1G/2.5G/5G/10G), backbone links
Tbps — Internet backbone, submarine cables, data center interconnects
MBps — File download/upload speeds shown in browsers and OS file managers
GBps — SSD performance, NVMe drives, high-speed storage benchmarks

Understanding which unit is being used helps you compare apples to apples. For bandwidth planning, our Bandwidth Calculator uses Mbps throughout for consistency.

Converting Speed to Data Usage

Knowing your speed in the right units helps estimate data consumption for activities like streaming and video calls:

# Speed to hourly data usage
Data per hour = Speed (Mbps) × 3600 seconds ÷ 8 ÷ 1024
             = Speed × 0.439 GB/hour

# Examples:
# 5 Mbps stream   → 5 × 0.439 = 2.2 GB/hour
# 25 Mbps 4K      → 25 × 0.439 = 11 GB/hour
# 1.8 Mbps Zoom   → 1.8 × 0.439 = 0.8 GB/hour

For streaming-specific calculations, use our Streaming Bandwidth Calculator. For video call data usage, try the Video Conference Bandwidth Calculator.

Ethernet and Wi-Fi Speed Standards

Network hardware is rated in bits per second. Here are common standards and their real-world byte rates:

Standard	Rated Speed	Max File Transfer	Real-World
Fast Ethernet	100 Mbps	12.5 MBps	~11 MBps
Gigabit Ethernet	1 Gbps	125 MBps	~112 MBps
2.5G Ethernet	2.5 Gbps	312.5 MBps	~280 MBps
10G Ethernet	10 Gbps	1.25 GBps	~1.1 GBps
Wi-Fi 5 (ac)	866 Mbps	108 MBps	~50-80 MBps
Wi-Fi 6 (ax)	1200 Mbps	150 MBps	~80-120 MBps
Wi-Fi 6E	2400 Mbps	300 MBps	~150-250 MBps

Plan your cabling with our Cable Length Calculator. For network latency beyond just throughput, use the Network Latency Test.

Key Takeaways

Divide Mbps by 8 to get MBps — the conversion that explains ISP speeds vs download speeds.
Lowercase 'b' = bits (network speeds). Uppercase 'B' = bytes (file sizes/transfers).
100 Mbps internet = 12.5 MBps maximum download speed.
Network speeds use decimal prefixes: 1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps (not 1,024).
Real-world Wi-Fi speeds are 40-60% of rated specifications due to overhead.
Use our Speed Test to measure your actual speeds in Mbps.

Video: Mbps vs MBps Explained

Related Tools & Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my download speed in MB/s lower than my internet plan in Mbps?

Because they use different units. Your ISP advertises in megabits (Mbps), while your OS shows megabytes (MBps). Divide Mbps by 8 to get MBps. So 100 Mbps = 12.5 MBps maximum download speed. If your downloads show 12 MB/s on a 100 Mbps plan, you're getting full speed.

Is 1 Gbps equal to 1000 Mbps or 1024 Mbps?

In networking, 1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps (decimal/SI prefix). The 1,024 multiplier only applies to binary storage units (GiB, MiB). All network speeds, ISP plans, and hardware specifications use the decimal system.

What speed do I need for 4K streaming?

4K streaming requires about 25 Mbps (3.1 MBps) per stream. For multiple 4K streams, multiply accordingly and add 20% overhead. Use our Streaming Bandwidth Calculator for detailed planning.

Why do ISPs use bits instead of bytes?

Historically, network protocols transmit data one bit at a time over the wire, so bits per second is the natural unit for measuring line speed. It also produces larger numbers (100 Mbps sounds faster than 12.5 MBps), which is a marketing advantage for ISPs.

How do I convert Mbps to GB per hour?

Multiply Mbps by 0.45 to get approximate GB per hour. For example: 10 Mbps × 0.45 = 4.5 GB per hour. The exact formula is: Mbps × 3600 ÷ 8 ÷ 1024 = GB/hour.

What is Tbps used for?

Terabits per second (Tbps) measures internet backbone capacity, submarine cable bandwidth, and data center interconnects. A single modern submarine cable can carry 200+ Tbps. Consumer connections don't approach Tbps speeds.

About Tommy N.

Tommy is the founder of RouterHax and a network engineer with 10+ years of experience in home and enterprise networking. He specializes in router configuration, WiFi optimization, and network security. When not writing guides, he's testing the latest mesh WiFi systems and helping readers troubleshoot their home networks.