Use this calculator to estimate your Network Attached Storage (NAS) requirements based on your current data, expected growth, retention period, and desired redundancy level.
No Redundancy (Single Drive)
RAID 0 (Striping)
RAID 1 (Mirroring)
RAID 5 (Striping with Parity)
RAID 6 (Striping with Double Parity)
RAID 10 (Striped Mirrors)
Understanding Your NAS Storage Needs
A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is a dedicated file storage server that allows multiple users and devices to access data over a network. Planning your NAS storage correctly is crucial to ensure you have enough space for current data, future growth, and adequate data protection.
Key Factors for NAS Storage Calculation:
Current Data Stored: This is the baseline amount of data you already have that needs to be stored on the NAS.
Expected Daily Data Growth: How much new data (documents, photos, videos, backups) do you anticipate adding to your NAS each day? This is a critical factor for long-term planning.
Desired Retention Period: How many years do you want to keep your data accessible on the NAS? A longer retention period means you'll need significantly more storage.
Over-provisioning Buffer: It's always wise to add an extra percentage of storage as a buffer. This accounts for unexpected data growth, system files, and ensures you don't run out of space prematurely, avoiding costly and inconvenient upgrades.
Desired Number of Drives: The number of physical hard drives you plan to install in your NAS enclosure. This directly impacts both raw capacity and the choice of RAID level.
Desired Redundancy Level (RAID Type): RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is fundamental for data protection and performance in a NAS. Different RAID levels offer varying degrees of redundancy and usable capacity:
No Redundancy (Single Drive): Offers no data protection. If the drive fails, all data is lost. Only suitable for non-critical data or if you have other backup solutions. Requires 1 drive.
RAID 0 (Striping): Combines drives for maximum speed and capacity, but offers NO redundancy. If one drive fails, all data in the array is lost. Requires at least 1 drive.
RAID 1 (Mirroring): Duplicates data across two drives, providing excellent redundancy (one drive can fail without data loss). However, usable capacity is only that of a single drive. Requires at least 2 drives (and typically an even number).
RAID 5 (Striping with Parity): Distributes data and parity information across all drives. Offers good performance and allows for one drive failure without data loss. Usable capacity is (N-1) * drive size, where N is the number of drives. Requires at least 3 drives.
RAID 6 (Striping with Double Parity): Similar to RAID 5 but includes two independent parity blocks, allowing for two drive failures without data loss. Usable capacity is (N-2) * drive size. Requires at least 4 drives.
RAID 10 (Striped Mirrors): Combines RAID 1 (mirroring) and RAID 0 (striping). Offers high performance and excellent redundancy (can tolerate multiple drive failures as long as they are not in the same mirrored pair). Usable capacity is 50% of total raw capacity. Requires at least 4 drives (and an even number).
How to Use the Calculator:
Input Your Current Data: Enter the total amount of data you currently have in Gigabytes (GB).
Estimate Daily Growth: Think about how much new data you create or download daily. Even small amounts add up over time.
Set Retention Period: Decide how many years you want to keep your data on the NAS.
Add a Buffer: A 10-20% buffer is generally recommended to avoid immediate capacity issues.
Choose Number of Drives: Select how many hard drive bays your NAS has or how many drives you plan to use.
Select RAID Level: Choose the RAID configuration that best balances your needs for data protection and usable capacity.
Calculate: Click the "Calculate Storage" button to see your estimated total data needed, minimum raw storage required, and the recommended individual drive size.
Remember that the recommended individual drive size is a minimum. It's often practical to round up to the next commercially available drive size (e.g., if it recommends 3.5 TB, you might buy 4 TB drives).