Storage calculator
Estimate how many photos, songs or videos fit on a given storage capacity. Compare drive sizes from USB sticks to multi-terabyte backups.
Last updated: May 2026
Enter values to estimate how many files fit.
How much fits on your storage device?
Storage capacity labels use decimal gigabytes (1 GB = 1,000 MB), but file sizes vary significantly by type. A 256 GB memory card holds roughly 25,600 JPEG photos at 10 MB average, or 5,000–12,800 RAW files at 20–50 MB each. Video is heavier: 4K footage at 100 Mbps generates about 750 MB per minute, so a 256 GB card holds around 5.7 hours.
Keeping a reserve of at least 10% is practical — HDDs slow noticeably above 85–90% capacity, and SSDs perform best below 75–85% full. The calculator applies your chosen reserve before estimating file count.
Common storage device capacities
| Capacity | Typical device | Approx. file count (photos at 5 MB) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 GB | Entry-level phone or USB stick | ~6,400 photos |
| 128 GB | Mid-range phone or SD card | ~25,000 photos |
| 256 GB | Laptop SSD or current-gen phone | ~50,000 photos |
| 512 GB | High-capacity phone or laptop | ~100,000 photos |
| 1 TB | Desktop SSD or external drive | ~200,000 photos |
| 4 TB | External HDD or NAS drive | ~800,000 photos |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many photos fit on a 256 GB card?
At an average JPEG size of 10 MB, about 25,600 photos. RAW files from modern cameras run 20–50 MB each, giving 5,000–12,800 files. Mixed shooting (RAW + JPEG) halves the effective file count. Set the average file size input to match your camera's output.
Why does Windows show less space than the label?
Drive manufacturers use decimal gigabytes (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes). Windows displays binary gibibytes (1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 256 GB drive shows as roughly 238 GiB in Explorer. This calculator uses decimal GB to match the drive label.
How much reserve space should I keep?
10% minimum as a practical rule. Hard drives slow above 85–90% full because the controller must search harder for contiguous free blocks. SSDs lose write performance above 75–85% full. The reserve field lets you set your own threshold before the file count is estimated.