How many gigabytes are in a terabyte? Storage capacity explained

TB, GB, MB, KB — these acronyms for storage capacity look similar, but understanding their differences is key to managing your data effectively, whether you’re backing up personal photos or seeking enterprise-wide solutions(new window). Especially when we live in a world forecasted to create, capture, and consume 149 zettabytes of data in 2024(new window) — a number projected to more than double by 2028. 

In this article, we’ll break down file sizes, compare physical and cloud storage, and introduce you to a solution for storing and sharing files regardless of their size.

What is a byte?

A byte is the fundamental unit of digital data storage. It consists of 8 bits, and each bit represents a binary value: either 0 or 1. These bits form the foundation for storing all types of digital information, including text, images, audio, or video.

How many gigabytes are in a terabyte?

A byte is the fundamental unit of digital data storage. It consists of 8 bits, and each bit represents a binary value: either 0 or 1. These bits form the foundation for storing all types of digital information, including text, images, audio, or video.

How many gigabytes are in a terabyte?

When bytes are combined, they scale up into larger units like kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB). These four are the units you are most likely to come across when purchasing a new laptop, smartphone, or external hard drive — or when storing, sharing, or accessing your files online.

To help you put this into perspective, a kilobyte is like a sip of water, a gigabyte is a full glass, and a terabyte is an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Bytes can scale even further than terabytes. The largest non-theoretical storage unit is a yottabyte, which could hold every book, video, image, and document ever created in human history — or 1,000 zettabytes, which is the same as one billion terabytes.

Decimal vs. binary memory

Have you ever purchased a hard drive marketed as 1 TB and found that when you connect it to your computer, its capacity appears closer to 900 GB? If so, you’ve witnessed the discrepancy between decimal and binary memory systems(new window).

Hardware manufacturers often use the decimal system and calculate data storage in powers of 10. This system follows the SI standard (International System of Units) and aligns with the general metric system, where 1 TB equals 1,000 GB. You’ll see these units when purchasing hard drives or SSDs.

Computers, however, typically use the binary system, calculating storage like RAM or flash memory in powers of two. In the binary system, as defined by JEDEC (Joint Electron Engineering Council), 1 KB equals 1,024 bytes, 1 MB equals 1,024 × 1,024 bytes (1,048,576 bytes), and so forth.

Differentiating between decimal and binary systems can be tricky,  so the IEC introduced binary prefixes to make this simpler. With these prefixes — kibi, mebi, gibi, etc — 1 kibibyte (KiB) is equal to 1 binary kilobyte (KB). 

But, while these prefixes exist, many operating systems still display capacities using the JEDEC system as they are more commonly recognised. When you plug your 1,000 GB decimal system hard drive into your binary system computer it will display ≈931 GB/GiB — making it appear to have less capacity than advertised when really it is the same amount.

At Proton Drive, we use the JEDEC system, so when you sign up for 1 TB of cloud storage you receive 1,024 gigabytes to store your files, photos, and documents.

How much storage do you need?

Determining how much storage you need starts with understanding what you plan to store. File types vary significantly in size, so your requirements will depend on the volume and type of data you have. For example, someone backing up hundreds of high-definition, hour-long videos will need a far greater capacity than someone storing a few text documents:

Personal storage needs, like backing up cherished photos, videos, and documents, may require:  

• 5 to 20 GB for the occasional storage of text files, photos, and some videos.  
• 50 to 200 GB if you’re storing more photos and videos regularly.  
• 500 GB to 2 TB if you often work with HD/4K videos, high-resolution photos, or large files.

Get 1 TB of storage for $14.99/month >

Business storage needs will vary depending on the size of your organization and the types of files your team handles:  

• 50 GB to 500 GB may be enough for small businesses managing documents, presentations, and basic file sharing. 
• 500 GB to 1 TB is better suited for teams or departments in medium-sized businesses.
• 1 TB or more per employee may be needed for businesses handling large datasets or technical files.

Get 1 TB of storage per user with Proton for Business >

How to store and send terabytes of data

Physical storage

For a long time, physical storage devices were the go-to method of storing and sharing files. External drives, SSDs, and USBs let you keep your files — literally — in your hands, but they have limitations. These devices have finite capacities, so expanding storage often requires purchasing new hardware. This can quickly become expensive if you have multiple megabytes or terabytes of data to store. 

Sharing data stored on physical devices can also be tricky. You can transport a device to your recipient, but this puts it at risk of damage, loss, or theft, making your data vulnerable to corruption or breaches. Alternatively, you can send your files by email, but as most email services typically have file size limits of around 25 MB, this is not always practical. 

Cloud storage

In contrast, cloud storage offers convenience and flexibility. It is easily scalable, letting you start with minimal capacity and expand as your needs grow. 

Cloud storage also makes it easier to collaborate, letting you access and share files with others regardless of where you or they are. With no file size limits, Proton Drive lets you share terabytes of data while avoiding the risk of damage, loss, or unauthorized access in the process.

Store and share files of any size with Proton Drive

Whether you’re sharing 1 GB or 1 TB, Proton Drive is a secure cloud storage solution that lets you backup and share files of any size or type. We use end-to-end encryption to ensure that the only people who can view your files are you and the people you choose — even Proton can’t gain access.  

Flexible and affordable, Proton Drive adapts with your needs. For personal files, sign up to Proton Drive and receive 5 GB of free storage with the option to upgrade to up to 1 TB. If you use Proton Drive for business, you can offer 1 TB of storage to each member of your organization and expand as it grows. 

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