Petabytes to Bits
Type a value in either box to convert between petabytes and bits. The factor is 8e+15.
| Petabytes | Bits |
|---|---|
| 1 PB | 8e+15 bit |
| 2 PB | 1.6e+16 bit |
| 3 PB | 2.4e+16 bit |
| 5 PB | 4e+16 bit |
| 10 PB | 8e+16 bit |
| 25 PB | 2e+17 bit |
| 50 PB | 4e+17 bit |
| 100 PB | 8e+17 bit |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Petabytes field.
- The Bits figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Bits field converts back to Petabytes the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Petabytes to Bits formula
The factor from petabytes to bits is 8e+15.
bit = PB × 8e+15
Why this factor: the petabyte and the bit are both defined against the byte, so dividing one definition by the other gives 8e+15 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 8e+15 — or use the Bits to Petabytes converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 4 PB and multiply by the factor 8e+15: the result is 3.2e+16 bit.
4 PB × 8e+15 = 3.2e+16 bit
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a petabyte?
A petabyte is a thousand terabytes — the scale of large-scale data infrastructure.
Definition: Exactly 1×10¹⁵ bytes under SI prefixes.
Where it is used: Data-centre and cloud storage footprints, scientific datasets, and media archives.
What is a bit?
A bit is the smallest unit of digital information — a single binary digit, either 0 or 1.
Definition: One eighth of a byte. The name is a contraction of 'binary digit'.
Where it is used: Network and connection speeds, which are always quoted in bits per second.
Worth knowing: Lowercase 'b' is bits, uppercase 'B' is bytes. A 100 Mb/s connection delivers about 12.5 MB/s.
Petabytes vs Bits
The petabyte and the bit belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many bits are in a petabyte?
One petabyte equals 8e+15 bits.
What is the formula to convert petabytes to bits?
Multiply the number of petabytes by 8e+15. To reverse it, divide by 8e+15 instead.
How do I convert bits back to petabytes?
Divide by 8e+15, which is the same as multiplying by 1.25e-16.
How many bits are in 10 petabytes?
10 PB works out to 8e+16 bit.
Is there anything to watch out for with bits?
Lowercase 'b' is bits, uppercase 'B' is bytes. A 100 Mb/s connection delivers about 12.5 MB/s.
How is the petabyte defined?
Exactly 1×10¹⁵ bytes under SI prefixes.