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Convert Bits to Petabytes - Data Storage Converter

This converter transforms a value expressed in bits into petabytes (PB) using the SI decimal definition where 1 PB = 10^15 bytes. It is useful for large-scale capacity planning, data warehousing, and network transfer estimates.

Updated Nov 24, 2025

Interactive Converter

Convert between bit and petabyte with precision rounding.

Quick reference table

BitPetabyte
1 b0 PB
5 b0 PB
10 b0 PB
25 b0 PB
50 b0 PB
100 b0 PB

Methodology

Base identity: 1 byte = 8 bits. Decimal (SI) prefixes use powers of 10: 1 PB = 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes.

Conversion path: bits → bytes (÷8) → petabytes (÷10^15). Combined: PB = bits ÷ (8 × 10^15).

Binary context: if you need pebibytes (PiB), use 1 PiB = 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes (2^50). The bit-to-byte factor remains ÷8; change the divisor to 1,125,899,906,842,624 for PiB.

Worked examples

8,000,000,000,000,000 bits → 1 PB.

40,000,000,000,000,000 bits → 5 PB.

8,007,379,880,000,000 bits → approximately 0.889 PB; equals about 0.888 PiB in binary terms.

Key takeaways

PB = bits ÷ (8 × 10^15) under decimal SI. For binary PiB, use the 2^50 byte divisor instead.

Expert Q&A

Which convention does this converter use by default?

Decimal SI prefixes (1 PB = 10^15 bytes). For binary needs (PiB), use the binary divisor shown in the methodology.

Why might a storage system show a different number?

Many systems report in binary units (PiB) or mix binary units but label them with decimal symbols. The underlying byte count is the same; the difference is the divisor (10^15 vs 2^50).

How should I round large values?

Keep high precision internally; for reports, round to a reasonable number of significant figures (for example, 2–4) and clearly label the unit and convention used.

Sources & citations