Utility
Storage Space Calculator
Estimate how much storage you need for your photos, videos, apps, documents, and music. Get a recommended device tier.
Average 5 MB each
Average 200 MB each (varies widely)
Average 2 MB each
Average 8 MB each (320kbps MP3)
Enter your content counts and click Calculate
How is this calculated?
Photos: count × 5 MB ÷ 1024 = GB
Videos: minutes × MB/min ÷ 1024 = GB
720p: ~60 MB/min
1080p: ~130 MB/min
4K: ~375 MB/min
Apps: count × 200 MB ÷ 1024 = GB
Docs: count × 2 MB ÷ 1024 = GB
Music: tracks × 8 MB ÷ 1024 = GB
OS overhead: +15 GB (iOS/Android)
Total = Photos + Videos + Apps + Docs + Music + OS
Recommended tiers: 64 / 128 / 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB
Choose the next tier above your total need.FAQ
Frequently asked questions about storage space
How much storage do I need for my phone?
For light users (few apps, some photos): 64GB. Average users (social media, photos, some videos): 128GB. Heavy users (lots of 4K video, games, music): 256GB+. If you stream music/movies instead of downloading, you need less.
How much space does a photo take?
A typical smartphone photo is 3-7MB depending on resolution and format. iPhone HEIC photos average 2-3MB, while standard JPEG photos at 12MP are about 4-5MB. RAW photos from a DSLR can be 25-50MB each.
How much storage does a minute of video use?
1080p video: ~130MB/minute. 4K video: ~350-400MB/minute. 720p: ~60MB/minute. A 10-minute 4K video can use 3.5-4GB of storage.
Why does my phone show less storage than advertised?
The operating system (iOS or Android) takes 10-15GB. Pre-installed apps use 5-10GB. System files, caches, and reserved space reduce available storage further. A 128GB phone typically has 110-115GB usable.
Should I get 256GB or 512GB?
Choose 512GB if you record lots of 4K video, have 200+ apps/games, keep a large music library offline, or don't use cloud storage. Most users find 256GB sufficient with moderate cloud usage.
Does cloud storage reduce the need for device storage?
Yes, services like iCloud, Google Photos, or OneDrive can offload photos and files. However, you still need local storage for apps, the OS, cached data, and offline content. Cloud helps but doesn't eliminate the need.