Mbit to MB Converter

1. How many MegaBits in a MegaByte?
2. Difference between Mbit and MB
3. How to convert MegaBits to MegaBytes
4. Mbit to MB conversion table

    How many MegaBits in a MegaByte?

Depending on the definition of the megabyte you are using, there can be 8.3886 megabits in a MB, or 8 megabits in a MB. The first uses the binary convention of the megabyte, according to witch a megabyte is 2²⁰ bytes, or 1,048,576 Bytes, or 8,388,608 bits, making it equal to 8.3886 mbits. The second uses the International System of Units (SI) decimal-based convention in which 1 megabyte = 8,000,000 bits, and so equals 8 mbits.

Both of these conflicting systems are correct, it is a matter of clearly communicating which one of them you are using in the current calculation. Our Mbit to MB converter supports both with a flip of a switch. In the SI system the binary megabyte is called a mebibyte (MiB).

    Difference between Mbit and MB

The Mbit and the MB, while both units of data, are usually used to measure different things. Mbits are usually used to denote connection capacity (bandwidth), while MegaBytes are used for data storage on disk or memory. They also represent different quantities of data.

Mbits are used to describe connection speed of certain devices, such as LAN cards, WAN cards, routers, switches, and other network equipment. For example, there are 10-mbit, 100-mbit, 1-gbit, 10-gbit and higher capacity LAN ports. Megabytes are used to describe things like file size and directory size on a storage medium such as a hard disk, SSD, CD/DVD, USB sticks, portable drives. Computer operating memory (RAM) is also expressed in MB or derivative metrics such as the GB.

    How to convert MegaBits to MegaBytes

Converting from mbits to MBs is not straightforward with the binary system - you need to divide the number of mbits by 8.388608 to arrive at the number of MB. It is easier in the SI standard, where you simply divide by 8.

Another approach, if you do not want to use the mbit to mb converter above, is to convert one of the units to bits, then convert it from bits to the other unit. Additional examples and a conversion table follow.

Mbits to MB conversion example

Sample task: convert 40 megabits to megabytes (binary, also Mbits to MiB). Solution:

Formula:
Mbits / 8.388608 = MB (binary, also MiB)
Calculation:
40 Mbits / 8.3886 = 4.768372 MB (binary, also MiB)
End result:
40 Mbits is equal to 4.768372 MB (binary, also MiB)

Sample task: convert 40 megabits to megabytes (SI). Solution:

Formula:
Mbits / 8 = MB (SI)
Calculation:
40 Mbits / 8 = 5 MB (SI)
End result:
40 Mbits is equal to 5 MB (SI)

    Mbit to MB conversion table