In 1 bits there are 0.125 bytes. Meanwhile in 1 bytes there are 8 bits. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure and how they are calculated. Or just use the Bytes to Bits calculator above to convert any number.
* Values rounded to 6 decimal places for readability
A bit is the smallest unit of digital data. It can be 0 or 1. Computers use bits to store and move information.
A byte is a larger unit of data. 1 byte = 8 bits. Bytes are often used to measure file size, memory, and data amounts.
To convert bits to bytes, divide by 8:
If you need a whole number of bytes and you get a decimal, you may need to round up when storing data (since you can’t store a fraction of a byte in many cases).
There are 8 bits in 1 byte. A bit is a single binary value (0 or 1). A byte groups 8 bits so computers can store and process data in chunks.
To convert bits to bytes, divide the number of bits by 8.
Formula: bytes = bits ÷ 8
To convert bytes to bits, multiply the number of bytes by 8.
Formula: bits = bytes × 8
Early computers used different byte sizes, but 8 bits became the common standard. Eight bits can represent 256 values (0 to 255), which fits well for storing text characters and small numbers.
Lowercase b means bit. Uppercase B means byte.
Not always. Two standards are used:
First convert bits to bytes by dividing by 8.
First convert bytes to bits by multiplying by 8.
Internet speeds usually show bits per second (bps), like Mbps or Gbps. This comes from how data moves across networks. File sizes are shown in bytes (KB, MB, GB) because most storage and file systems count data in bytes.
Mbps is megabits per second. MB/s is megabytes per second. Divide by 8 to switch from bits to bytes.
Formula: MB/s = Mbps ÷ 8
Example: 80 Mbps = 10 MB/s
Many plans list speed in Mbps, but downloads often show MB/s. Since 1 byte = 8 bits, the number looks smaller in MB/s. Overhead from Wi-Fi, encryption, and network traffic can also reduce real speeds.
You’ll see both decimal and binary units.
Yes. If the number of bits isn’t a multiple of 8, you’ll get a decimal. Example: 10 bits ÷ 8 = 1.25 bytes. In storage, partial bytes are handled through padding or by grouping bits in other ways.
A nibble is 4 bits, which is half a byte. It’s less common in modern use but still shows up in topics like hexadecimal values.
In almost all modern systems, yes. Eight-bit bytes are the standard for computers, operating systems, and networks. Older systems with different byte sizes exist in history, but they’re rare now.
The Calculate Box tool to convert bits to bytes uses the open source script Convert.js to convert units of measurement. To use this tool, simply type a bits value in the box and have it instantly converted to bytes.