Bytes to kilobytes
Multiply bytes by 0.001 to get kilobytes.
10,000 B = 10 kB
How to convert bytes to kilobytes
The kilobyte is one thousand bytes (10³ B) in the decimal (SI) convention. The byte is eight bits — the basic unit of digital storage.
Worked example — 10,000 B: 10,000 × 0.001 = 10 kB.
Bytes to kilobytes table
| Bytes | Kilobytes |
|---|---|
| 500 B | 0.5 kB |
| 1,000 B | 1 kB |
| 2,000 B | 2 kB |
| 5,000 B | 5 kB |
| 10,000 B | 10 kB |
| 50,000 B | 50 kB |
| 100,000 B | 100 kB |
| 500,000 B | 500 kB |
| 1,000,000 B | 1,000 kB |
Reverse and related
About bytes and kilobytes
Byte (B)
1 B = 0.001 kBDefinition. Eight bits — the basic unit of digital storage
History and origin
The byte was named in 1956 by Werner Buchholz at IBM, during the design of the Stretch computer, for the group of bits needed to encode one character — respelled from bite so it could not be confused with bit. Eight bits became the standard with the System/360 in the 1960s, giving 256 possible values.
Current use
The byte is the basic unit for file sizes and memory; storage and documents are measured in bytes and their multiples.
Source: IEC 80000-13 (quantities and units — information science); NIST on binary prefixes
Kilobyte (kB)
1 kB = 1,000 BDefinition. One thousand bytes (10³ B) in the decimal (SI) convention
History and origin
The kilobyte took the metric kilo prefix for a thousand, but in computing it was often used loosely for 1024 bytes. The IEC later defined the kibibyte for the binary value to remove the ambiguity.
Current use
Kilobytes measure small files and text documents; in strict decimal use a kilobyte is exactly one thousand bytes.
Source: IEC 80000-13 (quantities and units — information science); NIST on binary prefixes
Where people use this
Bytes: file sizes, memory. Kilobytes: small files, documents. 1000 bytes is 1 kB.
Every value is carried to full double precision; the display is rounded.
Both units are defined in IEC 80000-13 (quantities and units — information science); NIST on binary prefixes.
Questions people ask
How many bytes make a kB?
It takes 1000 bytes to make one kilobyte (decimal).
How many kB is 5000 bytes?
5000 bytes is 5 kB.
How many kB is 2000 bytes?
2000 bytes is 2 kB.