Mbps to MB/s Converter

Convert megabits per second (Mbps) to megabytes per second (MB/s) easily and accurately.

Calculator

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Enter the number of megabits per second you want to convert.

Guide

Understanding Mbps and MB/s

What are Mbps and MB/s?

Mbps (Megabits per second) and MB/s (Megabytes per second) are two different units used to measure data transfer speed, but they represent fundamentally different quantities:

  • Mbps (Megabits per second): A standard unit for measuring network bandwidth/throughput used by ISPs and network equipment manufacturers.
  • MB/s (Megabytes per second): More commonly used to measure file transfer speeds and storage performance.

The Critical Difference: Bits vs. Bytes

The fundamental difference lies in the units they measure:

  • 1 Byte = 8 bits
  • Therefore, 1 MB/s (Megabyte per second) = 8 Mbps (Megabits per second)
Important Note:

Network speeds are traditionally measured in bits (Mbps), while file sizes are typically measured in bytes (MB).

Binary vs. Decimal Standards

There are actually two different standards for defining megabytes:

  1. SI Standard (Decimal): 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes (1 MB/s = 8 Mbps)
  2. Binary Standard: 1 MiB (Mebibyte) = 1,048,576 bytes (1 MiB/s ≈ 8.389 Mbps)

Most network equipment and ISPs use the SI standard for simplicity.

Why This Matters

Understanding the difference between Mbps and MB/s is crucial for:

  • Correctly estimating download times: A 100 Mbps connection will download a 100 MB file in approximately 8 seconds (not 1 second).
  • Evaluating internet service plans: ISPs advertise speeds in Mbps (the smaller unit), which makes the numbers look larger.
  • Setting expectations: The speed you see in download managers (usually MB/s) will be about 1/8 of your connection speed in Mbps.

Common Internet Speeds and Their Equivalents

Internet Speed (Mbps) Transfer Rate (MB/s) Time to Download 1GB
10 Mbps 1.25 MB/s ~13.5 minutes
25 Mbps 3.125 MB/s ~5.5 minutes
50 Mbps 6.25 MB/s ~2.7 minutes
100 Mbps 12.5 MB/s ~1.4 minutes
500 Mbps 62.5 MB/s ~16 seconds
1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) 125 MB/s ~8 seconds

Technology Standards and Their Speeds

Technology Speed in Mbps Speed in MB/s
USB 2.0 480 Mbps 60 MB/s
USB 3.0 5 Gbps (5,000 Mbps) 625 MB/s
USB 3.1 Gen 2 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps) 1,250 MB/s
Gigabit Ethernet 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) 125 MB/s
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) Up to 3.5 Gbps (3,500 Mbps) Up to 437.5 MB/s
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Up to 9.6 Gbps (9,600 Mbps) Up to 1,200 MB/s
SATA III 6 Gbps (6,000 Mbps) 750 MB/s

Common Misconceptions

  • ISP advertising: When your ISP advertises "100 Mbps" internet, your maximum download speed will be around 12.5 MB/s, not 100 MB/s.
  • Theoretical vs. actual speeds: The maximum speeds listed for technologies are theoretical. Real-world performance is often lower due to overhead, environmental factors, and device limitations.
  • Download managers: Many download managers display speeds in MB/s, while speed tests typically show results in Mbps.
Guide

How to Convert Mbps to MB/s

To convert megabits per second (Mbps) to megabytes per second (MB/s), follow these steps:

  1. 1
    Take the number of megabits per second (Mbps)
  2. 2
    Divide by 8 (1 byte = 8 bits)
Example:

8 Mbps = 8 ÷ 8 = 1 MB/s

16 Mbps = 16 ÷ 8 = 2 MB/s

100 Mbps = 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s

Examples

Common Examples

Example 1 8 Mbps

8 Mbps = 1 MB/s

Example 2 16 Mbps

16 Mbps = 2 MB/s

Example 3 100 Mbps

100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s

Example 4 1000 Mbps

1000 Mbps = 125 MB/s

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