Saved calculators
Saved calculators
Conversion

PB to bits converter

Share calculator

Add our free calculator to your website

Please enter a valid URL. Only HTTPS URLs are supported.
Use as default values for the embed calculator what is currently in input fields of the calculator on the page.
Input border focus color, switchbox checked color, select item hover color etc.
Please agree to the Terms of Use.
Preview

Save calculator

What is a petabyte (PB)?

A petabyte (PB) is a unit of digital information storage in the International System of Units (SI). It represents 1 quadrillion bytes (1015 bytes). Petabytes are commonly used to measure large-scale data storage, such as in data centers, cloud storage, or video streaming platforms. For example, streaming platforms like Netflix process petabytes of data daily to deliver content to users globally.

What is a pebibyte (PiB)?

A pebibyte (PiB) is a unit of digital information in the binary (base-2) system, standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Unlike the SI system, 1 pebibyte equals 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes (250 bytes). This system is widely used in computing contexts, such as operating systems and memory management, where binary addressing is natural.

What is a bit?

A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of data in computing. It can hold a value of 0 or 1. Eight bits form a byte, which is the fundamental unit for measuring larger data quantities. Bits are essential in digital communications, such as internet bandwidth measurements (e.g., Mbps or gigabits per second).

Understanding data measurement systems

SI (decimal) system

The SI system uses base-10 prefixes:

  • 1 kilobyte (KB) = 103 bytes
  • 1 megabyte (MB) = 106 bytes
  • 1 gigabyte (GB) = 109 bytes
  • 1 terabyte (TB) = 1012 bytes
  • 1 petabyte (PB) = 1015 bytes

This system is used by storage manufacturers (e.g., hard drives) and telecommunications industries.

Binary (IEC) system

The IEC standard uses base-2 prefixes:

  • 1 kibibyte (KiB) = 210 bytes = 1,024 bytes
  • 1 mebibyte (MiB) = 220 bytes
  • 1 gibibyte (GiB) = 230 bytes
  • 1 tebibyte (TiB) = 240 bytes
  • 1 pebibyte (PiB) = 250 bytes

Operating systems like Windows and Linux often use this system for memory and file size reporting.

Formulas for converting petabytes and pebibytes to bits

Converting PB to bits

  1. Convert petabytes to bytes:
Bytes=PB×1015\text{Bytes} = \text{PB} \times 10^{15}
  1. Convert bytes to bits (1 byte = 8 bits):
Bits=Bytes×8=PB×1015×8\text{Bits} = \text{Bytes} \times 8 = \text{PB} \times 10^{15} \times 8

Converting PiB to bits

  1. Convert pebibytes to bytes:
Bytes=PiB×250\text{Bytes} = \text{PiB} \times 2^{50}
  1. Convert bytes to bits:
Bits=Bytes×8=PiB×250×8\text{Bits} = \text{Bytes} \times 8 = \text{PiB} \times 2^{50} \times 8

Step-by-step conversion examples

Example 1: Converting 2.5 PB to bits

  1. Convert PB to bytes:
2.5 PB×1015=2.5×1015 bytes2.5 \, \text{PB} \times 10^{15} = 2.5 \times 10^{15} \, \text{bytes}
  1. Convert bytes to bits:
2.5×1015×8=2×1016 bits2.5 \times 10^{15} \times 8 = 2 \times 10^{16} \, \text{bits}

Result: 20,000,000,000,000,000 bits (or 2×10162 \times 10^{16} bits).

Example 2: Converting 3 PiB to bits

  1. Convert PiB to bytes:
3 PiB×250=3×1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes=3,377,699,720,527,872 bytes3 \, \text{PiB} \times 2^{50} = 3 \times 1,125,899,906,842,624 \, \text{bytes} = 3,377,699,720,527,872 \, \text{bytes}
  1. Convert bytes to bits:
3,377,699,720,527,872×8=27,021,597,764,222,976 bits3,377,699,720,527,872 \times 8 = 27,021,597,764,222,976 \, \text{bits}

Result: 27,021,597,764,222,976 bits.

Real-world applications and examples

Social media data

Facebook processes approximately 4 petabytes of data daily from user uploads, comments, and likes. Converting this to bits:

4 PB×1015×8=3.2×1016 bits4 \, \text{PB} \times 10^{15} \times 8 = 3.2 \times 10^{16} \, \text{bits}

Scientific research

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) generates 30 petabytes of data annually. In bits:

30 PB×1015×8=2.4×1017 bits30 \, \text{PB} \times 10^{15} \times 8 = 2.4 \times 10^{17} \, \text{bits}

Historical context of data measurement units

The SI system’s prefixes (kilo-, mega-, giga-) were introduced in 1960, while the binary system (kibi-, mebi-, gibi-) was formalized by the IEC in 1998 to resolve confusion between decimal and binary interpretations. Early computers used binary measurements, but marketing of storage devices in decimal units led to discrepancies (e.g., a “1 TB” drive reporting 931 GiB in Windows).

Frequently asked questions

How many bits are in a PB?

1 PB equals 8×10158 \times 10^{15} bits. Calculation:

1 PB=1015 bytes=1015×8 bits=8,000,000,000,000,000 bits1 \, \text{PB} = 10^{15} \, \text{bytes} = 10^{15} \times 8 \, \text{bits} = 8,000,000,000,000,000 \, \text{bits}

Why do PB and PiB represent different quantities?

PB (SI) uses base-10, while PiB (IEC) uses base-2. This difference arises from the historical use of binary systems in computing vs. the decimal system in broader science.

How to convert 5 PiB to bits?

  1. Convert PiB to bytes:
5×250=5,629,499,534,213,120 bytes5 \times 2^{50} = 5,629,499,534,213,120 \, \text{bytes}
  1. Convert to bits:
5,629,499,534,213,120×8=45,035,996,273,704,960 bits5,629,499,534,213,120 \times 8 = 45,035,996,273,704,960 \, \text{bits}

Are bits used in internet speed measurements?

Yes. Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). For example, a 1 Gbps connection transfers 1 billion bits per second.

What causes the difference between PB and PiB in storage devices?

Storage manufacturers use PB (1015 bytes) for marketing, while operating systems display PiB (250 bytes). For instance, a 1 PB drive shows ≈0.89 PiB in a binary-based OS, creating a “missing” storage perception.

Notes

  • Always specify the system (SI or IEC) when converting units.
  • For precise scientific calculations, use IEC units to avoid rounding errors.
  • 1 PB ≈ 0.888 PiB, highlighting the significance of the system choice.

Similar calculators

Privacy policy Terms of use

Report a bug