Bits to Megabits
Convert bits (b) to megabits (Mb). Both measure digital storage, and the conversion comes up in computing, storage, internet work.
The Formula
``
megabits = bits × 0.000001
bits = megabits × 1000000
`
One bit is 1.0000e-6 megabits, and one megabit is 1,000,000 bits.
Conversion Table
| Bits | Megabits |
|---|---|
| 1 b | 1.0000e-6 Mb |
| 2 b | 2.0000e-6 Mb |
| 5 b | 5.0000e-6 Mb |
| 10 b | 1.0000e-5 Mb |
| 25 b | 2.5000e-5 Mb |
| 50 b | 5.0000e-5 Mb |
| 100 b | 1.0000e-4 Mb |
| 500 b | 5.0000e-4 Mb |
| 1,000 b | 0.001 Mb |
The Other Direction
| Megabits | Bits |
|---|---|
| 1 Mb | 1,000,000 b |
| 2 Mb | 2,000,000 b |
| 5 Mb | 5,000,000 b |
| 10 Mb | 10,000,000 b |
| 25 Mb | 25,000,000 b |
| 50 Mb | 50,000,000 b |
| 100 Mb | 100,000,000 b |
| 500 Mb | 500,000,000 b |
| 1,000 Mb | 1,000,000,000 b |
What Each Unit Is
Bits (b) — a single binary digit — the smallest unit of information. Named by John Tukey in 1946, from "binary digit".
Megabits (Mb) — 1,000,000 bits. The unit internet plans are sold in — deliberately, because it makes the number eight times larger.
A Sense of Scale
Network speeds are quoted in bits per second- A byte is 8 bits
- HD streaming needs 5 Mbit/s
- 100 Mbit/s downloads at about 12.5 MB/s
Precision
The factor 0.000001 is rounded. For engineering work carry more digits than the table above, and round only at the end — rounding at each step compounds.
Watch Out For
- Mb is megabits, MB is megabytes. A 100 Mbps connection delivers roughly 12.5 MB/s, not 100.
In Code
`javascript
const bitToMegabit = (value) => value * 0.000001;
``
Where This Conversion Comes Up
- Computing
- Storage
- Internet
- Media
- Backups
How Many Decimals Do You Need?
Rounding the factor costs accuracy, and how much depends on the factor. Converting 137 b with the factor truncated at each decimal place:
| Decimals kept | Factor | 137 b becomes | Error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.0000% |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0000% |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0000% |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0000% |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0000% |
The right number of significant figures is set by your input, not by the converter. If you measured bits to three significant figures, the answer in megabits is only good to three — writing more digits claims precision the measurement never had.