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TB to GB Converter
Convert TB to GB with our free TB to GB converter — or flip it and turn gigabytes back into terabytes. One terabyte equals 1,024 gigabytes in the binary system your computer uses, so a 2 TB drive holds 2,048 GB of space.
Common storage sizes
| Terabytes | Gigabytes (binary) | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 TB | 512 GB | A typical laptop SSD |
| 1 TB | 1,024 GB | A standard external drive |
| 2 TB | 2,048 GB | A large photo and video library |
| 4 TB | 4,096 GB | A home backup drive |
| 8 TB | 8,192 GB | A serious media collection |
How it works
A terabyte (TB) and a gigabyte (GB) are both units of digital storage, and the gigabyte is the smaller one. Computers store everything as bits and bytes, and they group those bytes in powers of two: 1 kilobyte is 1,024 bytes, 1 megabyte is 1,024 kilobytes, 1 gigabyte is 1,024 megabytes, and 1 terabyte is 1,024 gigabytes. That chain of 1,024s is the binary system, and it is the system your operating system uses when it reports how much space a drive has or how big a file is.
There is a second way of counting, and it is the reason a brand-new drive never seems to hold as much as the box promises. Drive makers and cloud storage sellers use the decimal system, where 1 TB equals 1,000 GB. A drive sold as 1 TB holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Divide that by 1,024 three times — bytes to kilobytes, kilobytes to megabytes, megabytes to gigabytes — and your computer reports about 931 GB of usable space. Nothing is wrong with the drive; the two sides are simply counting with different rulers.
To convert terabytes to gigabytes, multiply by 1,024. To go the other way, divide gigabytes by 1,024. For example, 2 TB × 1,024 = 2,048 GB, and 512 GB ÷ 1,024 = 0.5 TB. If you are reading a drive maker's label or a cloud plan, the decimal figure is 1 TB = 1,000 GB, so 2 TB on the box means 2,000 GB by that count. This converter shows both figures so you can match whichever number you are looking at.
Knowing the difference matters when you buy storage. A 1 TB solid-state drive gives you roughly 931 GB of space as your computer sees it, which still holds tens of thousands of photos or hundreds of hours of video, but it is about 7 percent less than the label suggests. Backups are the other place this bites: a backup of 1.5 TB of files needs a drive bigger than 1.5 TB on the label, because the backup drive's real capacity in your computer's counting is smaller. When in doubt, buy one size up and check the binary figure before you copy anything important.
Worked example
Maria is buying an external drive to back up her laptop. Her laptop holds 2 TB of photos and video, and she wants to know how many gigabytes that is so she can compare drive sizes.
Step 1: Write down the size — 2 TB.
Step 2: Use the binary conversion factor — 1 TB = 1,024 GB.
Step 3: Multiply: 2 × 1,024 = 2,048.
Step 4: Read the answer — 2,048 GB.
That is the exact result this converter gives for 2 TB: 2,048 GB. By the drive maker's decimal count the same 2 TB is 2,000 GB, so Maria should look for a drive labelled at least 2 TB — and if she wants room to grow, a 4 TB drive, which holds 4,096 GB by her computer's count.
FAQ
How many GB is 1 TB?
1 TB equals 1,024 GB when you use the binary system that operating systems use. So 2 TB equals 2,048 GB.
Why does my 1 TB drive show less than 1,024 GB?
Drive makers count 1 TB as 1,000 GB, while your operating system counts 1 TB as 1,024 GB. A drive sold as 1 TB holds 1,000,000,000,000 bytes, which your computer reports as about 931 GB.
How do I convert GB back to TB?
Divide the GB figure by 1,024. For example, 512 GB ÷ 1,024 = 0.5 TB. Use the swap button on this page to convert either direction.
Is 1 TB the same as 1,000 GB?
It depends on who is counting. Hard drive makers use 1 TB = 1,000 GB, while computers and operating systems use 1 TB = 1,024 GB. This converter uses 1,024 GB and shows the 1,000 GB figure as well.