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RAID Storage Calculator

Calculate the usable disk space and fault tolerance of your NAS or server setup.

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Usable Capacity

0 TB

Fault Tolerance

0 Drives

How to Use the RAID Calculator?

Planning a new NAS (Network Attached Storage) or upgrading a home server? Choosing the right RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) configuration is critical. Our tool helps you find the perfect balance between storage capacity and data safety.

  1. Enter Number of Drives: Input the total amount of physical hard drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs) you plan to use.
  2. Drive Capacity: Enter the size of a single drive (e.g., 4 TB). Note: RAID arrays are limited by the size of the smallest drive in the array, so assume all drives are identical.
  3. Select RAID Level: Choose your desired array type. If you aren't sure, RAID 5 is the most common for home servers, while RAID 10 is preferred for high-performance enterprise setups.
  4. Review the Results: Instantly see your actual usable storage space and how many drives can fail before you lose data (Fault Tolerance).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is RAID 5 and why is it popular?

RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity. This means you lose the storage capacity of exactly one drive to parity data, but in exchange, any single drive in the array can fail without you losing any data. It requires a minimum of 3 drives and is highly popular for NAS enclosures because it offers a great balance of storage space, speed, and safety.

RAID 1 vs RAID 10: Which is better?

RAID 1 creates an exact 1:1 clone (mirror) of your data across two drives. You get 50% usable space and can survive one drive failure. RAID 10 requires at least 4 drives. It combines striping (RAID 0) for speed and mirroring (RAID 1) for redundancy. RAID 10 also yields 50% usable capacity but offers vastly superior read/write performance compared to RAID 1.

Does RAID replace the need for backups?

No! RAID is not a backup. RAID provides hardware redundancy to keep your server running if a drive physically breaks. However, if you accidentally delete a file, get hit by ransomware, or the server catches fire, RAID will not save you. Always follow the 3-2-1 backup rule for important data.