Mbps vs MB/s: Megabits vs Megabytes
Mbps (megabits per second) is how internet speed is sold and tested. MB/s (megabytes per second) is what download managers and browsers show. One byte equals 8 bits, so divide Mbps by 8 to get MB/s: a 20 Mbps connection downloads at about 2.5 MB/s.
Conversion table
| Internet speed | Max download rate | 1 GB file takes about |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mbps | 1 MB/s | 17 minutes |
| 20 Mbps | 2.5 MB/s | 7 minutes |
| 50 Mbps | 6.25 MB/s | 2.7 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s | 1.4 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s | 17 seconds |
Real downloads are a little slower than these figures because of network overhead and the speed of the server you download from.
Why do ISPs use megabits?
Networking has always measured the line rate in bits per second, worldwide. It is a standard, not a trick — but the bigger number does make packages look faster to people who expect bytes.
What about Kbps and Gbps?
1 Gbps = 1,000 Mbps; 1 Mbps = 1,000 Kbps. Older PTCL DSL packages and 2G/3G connections were often described in Kbps.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 MB/s the same as 8 Mbps?
Yes, approximately.
Why does my 100 Mbps fiber only download at 11 MB/s?
That is close to the maximum: 100 ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s, minus overhead.