Why Mbps and MB/s aren't the same number
MB/s = Mbps ÷ 8 Mbps = MB/s × 8 There are 8 bits in a byte. Internet providers advertise speed in megabits per second (Mbps), but file sizes and download/upload progress bars are almost always shown in megabytes (MB) — so a "100 Mbps" connection is a 12.5 MB/s connection, not a 100 MB/s one. Mixing the two up is the single most common mistake in estimating how long a download or upload will actually take.
Common conversions
| Mbps | MB/s |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 1.25 MB/s |
| 25 Mbps | 3.125 MB/s |
| 50 Mbps | 6.25 MB/s |
| 100 Mbps | 12.5 MB/s |
| 300 Mbps | 37.5 MB/s |
| 500 Mbps | 62.5 MB/s |
| 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) | 125 MB/s |
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert Mbps to MB/s?
Divide by 8. There are 8 bits in a byte, so 100 Mbps (megabits per second) equals 12.5 MB/s (megabytes per second).
Is 100 Mbps fast?
That depends on what you're comparing it to, but in raw transfer terms, 100 Mbps equals 12.5 MB/s — enough to download a 1GB file in about 80 seconds under ideal conditions.
Why does my download speed show MB/s but my internet plan says Mbps?
ISPs advertise plans in megabits per second by convention, but most operating systems and browsers show active transfer speed in megabytes per second. Both numbers can be correct at once — they're just measuring in different units, 8x apart.