Megabytes (MB) vs Kilobytes (kB): Photo & File Size Comparisons (2024)

Are you looking for a detailed comparison of Megabyte (MB) and Kilobyte (KB) Sizes? This guide is for you!

Here, you’ll find the photo & file size comparisons and learn about the key differences between MB and KB, especially in the context of image file management.

I’ll guide you through how these units of measurement impact photo quality, storage, sharing, and everything else you need to know about Megabytes and Kilobytes.

Let’s dive in.

MB vs KB Photo Size: What’s the Difference?

We often deal with storage issues and get confused by the different image formats, file sizes and their meanings.

I’ll guide you through the meaning and differences between various file sizes in this section.

In simple words, Megabytes and Kilobytes are two units of measuring the size of different types of data, including photos, videos, documents, and other files.

As the size of a file increases, the unit used to denote it also changes.

To understand this better, let’s first understand the various units of measuring data.

Here’s a simplified comparison table for different file-size units:

As you saw above, Megabyte and Kilobyte are two of the many ways to measure a file size.

Even though MB-sized files are larger than those in KBs, both larger and smaller files have advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s look at some of the key differences between the two:

Scale

Understanding the scale difference between MB and kB is fundamental. While a kilobyte comprises 1,024 bytes, a megabyte encompasses 1,024 kilobytes. This scale difference is crucial in understanding the size and quality of photos and video files.

Impact on Photo Quality

The size of a photo file in MB or kB influences its resolution and detail.

Larger files (MB) typically denote higher quality and resolution, offering more detail and less compression.

However, a heavier file doesn’t always mean high quality or resolution.

Many other properties, such as metadata and post-processing layers, increase a file’s size.

Impact on Video Quality

Similar to photos, videos’ file size, measured in KB, MB, or GB, affects their resolution and quality.

Larger file sizes allow for higher-definition video playback without loss of quality.

Video files that are less than one MB or in KBs usually have lower quality and detail than those in MBs.

Storage Considerations

Larger files require more storage space and can be more challenging to share due to size limitations on email platforms and social media.

Understanding the balance between file size and quality is key to efficient use of the storage your devices allow.

Whether you’re saving your data on your laptop, external hard drive, or cloud, you’ll save space when your files are in KBs compared to those in MBs.

Impact on Social Media

Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook often compress larger photos and video files, affecting quality.

Knowing how to optimize file sizes without compromising too much on quality is essential for content creators.

A file that is well-optimized for social media and is in KBs won’t get compressed and retain the quality you chose while saving.

Practicality

Knowing when to use high-resolution images versus when to opt for smaller file sizes can save significant storage space and allow easier sharing, especially in professional settings where quality and efficiency are important.

Megabytes and kilobytes are units of measurement, and files in MBs are larger than those in KBs.

However, both larger and smaller files have their advantages and disadvantages.

Understanding the above factors would help you make informed decisions regarding file sizes and strike the right balance between quality, practicality, and sizes.

What’s the Difference Between Image Size and File Size?

Image size and file size are two distinct properties of digital images, each affecting a different aspect of an image’s usage and storage.

Let’s break down the differences between them:

Image Size

Image size refers to the image’s dimensions in terms of width and height, typically measured in pixels.

For example, an image might have dimensions of 1920×1080 pixels, which can also be called its size.

The image size would determine how the image will appear when displayed on a screen or printed on paper.

Larger image sizes generally result in higher visual quality and more detail.
Image size is often adjusted based on the intended use of the image.

For instance, images for web display might have smaller dimensions to optimize loading times, while images for printing may require higher resolutions for better print quality.

(See also: how big can you print a photo?)

File Size

On the other hand, file size refers to the amount of storage space the image file occupies on a computer or storage device, typically measured in bytes (kilobytes, megabytes, etc., for larger files).

The file size is determined by various factors, including the image’s dimensions, color depth, compression level, and file format.

Compression methods, such as JPEG compression, can reduce the file size of photos by discarding some image data while attempting to preserve visual quality.

Image data consists of various things such as light, color information, details, etc.

The amount of compression determines the final photo’s quality and file size. Therefore, higher compression levels may result in visible loss of detail and image artifacts but a smaller file size.

Different file formats have different inherent levels of compression and quality.

For example, JPEG files are often smaller but may sacrifice some quality, while PNG files are larger but maintain a higher quality with support for transparency.

To sum up, image size refers to the dimensions of the image, which affect its visual appearance, while file size refers to the amount of storage space the image file occupies, which is influenced by various factors, including compression and file format.

Understanding the differences between these two aspects is crucial for optimizing images for different purposes, whether it’s for web design, printing, or storage efficiency.

MB vs KB: What Is a Good File Size for Photos?

When determining what constitutes a good file size for photos, it’s essential to consider the specific requirements and limitations of various platforms and mediums where the photos will be used.

Here’s a list of recommended file sizes for different purposes:

Uploading to WordPress

Loading speed is one of the most important things for the success of a WordPress website.

Large image sizes can considerably slow down the load time, so it makes sense to optimize your photos for a balance of quality and file size.

Web experts typically recommend images with a maximum file size of 150 to 200 KBs for optimal performance.

Some ways to reduce a photo’s size are resizing, compressing, or converting to a high-compression format such as WEBp.

Also, to ensure fast loading times, make sure to resize images to fit the content width of your WordPress website.

Uploading to Facebook

Like websites, you should upload files with a good balance of quality and size.

However, Facebook automatically compresses your large files. For the best performance on the platform, it’s recommended that you resize the images and keep the maximum file size up to 200 KB for fast loading on both desktop and mobile devices.

Using JPEG format with high-quality compression is also advisable to maintain visual clarity while minimizing file size.

Sharing Online

For sharing photos on social media platforms or via email, aim for file sizes between 100KB to 1MB, depending on the platform’s file size limitations and image quality preferences.

JPEG format with moderate compression is often suitable for balancing image quality and file size.

Newsletters

When including photos in newsletters, aim for file sizes between 100KB and 500KB to ensure fast loading times for email recipients.

Consider using JPEG format with medium to high compression to balance image quality and file size.

Experiment with different resolutions and compression levels, and watch for any artifacts and pixelation.

Printing

Higher-resolution images with larger file sizes are generally recommended for printing purposes to ensure good print quality.

Aim for file sizes between 2MB to 10MB or more, depending on the desired print size and resolution.

Additionally, use uncompressed or lossless compression formats like TIFF or PNG to preserve image quality for printing.

However, file size is not always a good representative of the image quality; you should pay attention to the resolution (pixel value of width and height) and DPI.

The recommended file size for photos varies depending on the specific platform or medium for which they will be used.

It’s important to consider factors such as platform limitations, image quality requirements, and intended use when determining the right file size for your photos.

Optimizing images through resizing, compression, and format selection can help achieve the best results for each use case.

How to Resize Your Images

Resizing images is an essential skill in the digital age, with plenty of free and paid tools to make the task easier.

You can do that with any popular software, such as Photoshop and Lightroom, web-based tools, like Canva, or Windows’s built-in photo editor.

Additionally, there are numerous aesthetic photo editing apps on the App Store and Play Store that allow mobile users to resize images conveniently.

Here are the steps for resizing images that are common across these platforms:

• Open your chosen image editing tool or app
• Upload or open the image you wish to resize
• Locate the “Resize” or “Image Size” option, usually found under the “Edit” or “Image” menu
• Enter your desired dimensions or scale the image proportionally to maintain its aspect ratio
• Adjust the resolution if necessary and choose a suitable DPI depending on whether your image is intended for web use (72 DPI or higher) or print (300 DPI or higher)
• Save your resized image, preferably using the “Save As” or “Save a copy” function to keep the original file unchanged

These steps provide a basic approach to resizing images, applicable across various editing platforms and devices.

For more details, you can check our guides on Photoshop resizing and print-specific resizing.

MB vs. KB FAQs

How many MB should a good photo be?

Depending on where you wish to use the photo, it should have ample resolution to display without any artifacts. The ideal file size would vary based on the intended use.

Should I use MB or KB when saving photos?

Sometimes, you can’t decide the file size while saving a photo. However, you can control resolution, compression, file format, and quality factors. The higher the resolution, the larger the file size.

Is KB or MB better quality?

Image quality depends on various factors, such as resolution and compression, as well as the camera and lens used.The more light and detailed information in a photo, the larger its size. Considering the above, photos with size in MBs have better quality in most cases.

Which one is bigger: KB or MB?

MB is bigger than KB as there are 1024 KBs in 1 MB.

How many KB is an MB photo?

When measured in KBs, a one MB photo would have 1024 KBs.

What is the ideal image size in KB?

There’s no ideal image size in KB, as it depends on the platform where you will use the image. However, you should make sure to use ample resolution for the purpose.

What is the average size of a picture in MB?

Pictures in MB file sizes have a higher resolution compared to the smaller KB files. Usually, the resolution is a minimum of 1080 pixels on the long side.

How do I convert my photo from MB to KB?

You can convert the photo from MB to KB by reducing the resolution, using higher compression value, or converting the file format to high-compression formats like HEIC or WebP.