Category
Tech
File Inputs
Enter file counts and average file sizes, or use presets for quick assumptions.
Photos
Still-image libraries from phone photos to professional RAW captures.
How many files you expect to store in this category.
Average size per file for this category. Use presets if you are unsure where to start.
Choose KB, MB, or GB for the average size value.
Preset values are optional shortcuts and can be adjusted manually at any time.
Preset: Phone JPEG (about 3 MB)
Videos
Recorded clips, exports, and high-bitrate footage from modern devices.
How many files you expect to store in this category.
Average size per file for this category. Use presets if you are unsure where to start.
Choose KB, MB, or GB for the average size value.
Preset values are optional shortcuts and can be adjusted manually at any time.
Preset: 4K clip (about 1 GB)
Documents
PDFs, office files, scans, and exported report bundles.
How many files you expect to store in this category.
Average size per file for this category. Use presets if you are unsure where to start.
Choose KB, MB, or GB for the average size value.
Preset values are optional shortcuts and can be adjusted manually at any time.
Preset: PDF doc (about 2 MB)
Backup Copies (Optional)
Multiply storage requirements to include additional full backups.
1x = primary copy only, 2x = one backup copy, 3x = two backup copies, and so on.
Quick backup presets
1x means only the primary copy is included.
Formula Summary
Category MB = file count x average size x selected unit multiplier
Base total MB = photos MB + videos MB + documents MB
Total MB with backups = base total MB x backup copies
Total GB = total MB / 1,000
Total TB = total MB / 1,000,000
How It Works
This calculator estimates total storage for common media categories using file count and average file size for each type.
Preset sizes provide quick starting assumptions for 4K video, RAW photography, and typical document formats.
- Category storage (MB) = file count x average size x selected unit multiplier.
- Base total (MB) = photos + videos + documents.
- Total with backups (MB) = base total x backup copies.
- GB = MB / 1,000 and TB = MB / 1,000,000 (decimal storage units).
- Category percentage share = category total / total with backups x 100.
Example Calculations
Family media archive
2,500 phone photos (3 MB), 120 4K videos (1 GB), 3,000 PDFs (2 MB), backups 2x
Base 133.5 GB, total with backups 267 GB (0.267 TB)
Creator workflow storage planning
12,000 RAW photos (30 MB), 400 RAW/log clips (4 GB), 2,000 docs (5 MB), backups 3x
Base 1,970 GB, total with backups 5.91 TB
Light office backup set
300 photos (3 MB), 80 1080p videos (250 MB), 15,000 text docs (200 KB), backups 2x
Base about 23.9 GB, total with backups about 47.8 GB
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the presets?
Presets are practical planning defaults. Actual file sizes vary by camera model, codec, compression settings, and editing workflow.
What does backup copies mean?
It is a multiplier on the base storage. 1x means only the primary copy, 2x means one additional backup copy, and 3x means two backups.
Why use decimal GB and TB?
Cloud and drive vendors commonly market capacity in decimal units. This calculator follows 1 GB = 1,000 MB and 1 TB = 1,000 GB for planning consistency.
Can I model mixed file sizes in one category?
Yes. Use a weighted average file size for that category or split calculations into multiple passes and add the totals.
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