1 Mbit = ? bytes
Solution 1
Megabits is a unit of measure that comes from TELECOM, not CS. So it is:
1 Megabit == 1,000,000 bits == 125,000 bytes
When it's a CS based unit of measure, usually the 1024
rules apply:
1 Megabyte = 1,024 Kilobytes = 1,024 x 1,024 bytes
Solution 2
One megaoctet (only the same as a megabyte if each byte has eight bits) is eight megabits. Exactly the same conversion applies as for megabytes.
A one "megabit" RAM, ROM, or flash memory chip has 10242 mebibits (Mibit) = 1 048 576 bits.
A one megabit per second Internet connection can transfer 10002 megabits (Mbit) = 1 000 000 bits per second.
So four different conversions of "megabits" to "megabytes" may apply (assuming that each byte does have eight bits):
- 1 Mibit (mebibit) = 8 MiB (mebibytes) = 8 388 608 B = 8.388608 MB (megabytes)
- 1 Mbit (megabit) = 8 MB (megabytes) = 8 000 000 B ≈ 7.6294 MiB (mebibytes)
Solution 3
It's the former.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabit
Solution 4
1 megabit = 0.125 megabyte
Alright, I didn't mean for my answer to cause such uproar, but as all of your comments are valid, I figured I would come back to help clear up my reputation a bit.
I believe the correct answer to the whole question is that a
- Megabit is 1,000,000 Bits
- Mebibit is 1,048,576 Bits
- Megabyte is 8,000,000 Bits
- Mebibyte is 8,388,608 Bits
So the original question is not a matter of which one is correct, but that they have the wrong name to the label.
1 Megabit == 2^20 bits == 1,048,576 bits == 131,072 bytes
Should instead be:
1 Mebibit == 2^20 bits == 1,048,576 bits == 131,072 bytes
Solution 5
Kilo is 1.000, Mega is 1.000.000 times of whatever it is. Such as Kilogram is 1.000 gram. Kilohertz is 1.000 hertz so on.
Same for Mega, MegaHertz is 1.000.000 hertz, Megabit is 1.000.000 bit.
Since 1 byte is 8 bit, then 1.000.000 / 8 = 125.000 byte.
When it comes to computer, the multiplier changes slightly, such as Kilo is 1024 times and Mega is 1024*1024 = 1.048.576 times of whatever it is (in generally bit).
In this case 1 MegaBit = 1.024 * 1.024 = 1.048.576 bits, in terms of byte 1.048.576/8 = 131.072 bytes.
Nate
A stereotypical, coffee-loving engineer from Melbourne Beach, FL
Updated on July 09, 2022Comments
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Nate almost 2 years
I always get confused about this. Is there a "standard" conversion of Megabits to bytes?
Is it:
1 Megabit == 1,000,000 bits == 125,000 bytes
Or:
1 Megabit == 2^20 bits == 1,048,576 bits == 131,072 bytes
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David Zimmerman about 13 yearsThis wonderfully puts off the question 1000 vs 1024 by ignoring it!
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Nate about 13 yearsThis answer states:
1 Megabit == 131,072 bytes
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Andrew Moore about 13 yearsAlso, the unit Mebibyte (MiB) is now used for binary-based values (1024 rules) versus the now SI approved base-10 Megabyte. All but Microsoft uses the new unit meanings in their operating systems.
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Aleadam about 13 years-1 he clearly searched before and is asking a very specific and valid question. No need for the google link here.
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Dan Blows about 13 years1 Didn't answer what was a pretty reasonable question.
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Dan Blows about 13 years@Pablo Santa Cruz Now I'm confused. Google disagrees with you. - it says "1 megabit = 131 072 byte". I know nothing about this, so I might just have misunderstood.
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Pablo Santa Cruz about 13 years@Blowski: Don't know where you get that Google says that 1 muegabit = 131072 bytes. But check out wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabit
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Pablo Santa Cruz about 13 years@Blowski: The number 125,000 comes from 1,000,000/8. 1 bytes = 8 bits.
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Dan Blows about 13 years@Pablo Santa Cruz I put the link above - it's just searching on Google for
megabit to byte
and Google Calculator returns "1 megabit = 131 072 byte". I'm not saying you're wrong - just trying to clear up a discrepancy between Google and Wikipedia. I suspect they're both right, referring to different things, but to the lay man it looks like they disagree. -
Dan Blows about 13 years..and I have changed my mind about your answer as it seems to muddy the waters on the accepted answer.
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Koray Tugay over 10 yearsGoogle says 1 Megatbit = 1.049e+6 bits
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Chris about 10 yearsgoogle tells me 1 MBit = 131072 bytes see: google.com/search?q=1+megabit+to+byte
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Joshua over 3 yearsWhen I click your search link I get 1 MBit = 125000 bytes from Google.