Data Transfer Rate
Convert between Mbps, Gbps, MB/s and more
Quick Conversions
About Data Transfer Rate Conversion
Data transfer rate (bandwidth) measures how quickly data moves from one point to another and is critical for understanding internet speeds, network performance, and file transfer times. The fundamental unit is bits per second (bps), and rates are commonly expressed in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps) for network connections.
A common source of confusion is the difference between bits and bytes in speed measurements. Internet service providers advertise speeds in megabits per second (Mbps), while download managers and file transfers often show speeds in megabytes per second (MB/s). Since one byte equals eight bits, a 100 Mbps connection yields a maximum download speed of 12.5 MB/s. This converter makes it easy to translate between these units.
Modern internet connections range from a few Mbps for basic broadband to 10 Gbps for fiber optic connections. Data center interconnects can reach terabits per second. Understanding these rates helps consumers evaluate internet plans and professionals design efficient network infrastructure.