Choosing the Best Hard Drive for Price per Terabyte or Gigabyte
One question that storage users who are more concerned about the longevity and future-proofing of their storage ask us is:
“HDD Price per TB (best cost Hard Drives). Is it better to get bigger size drives or smaller drives but more of them to achieve desired storage space?”
Yes, this is a popular question indeed, especially with bigger size hard drives. Those drives tend to be much more expensive per terabyte. It is often cheaper to get an additional drive which is smaller and gain the same total capacity (using two or 3 drives) cheaper.
How to calculate price per GB / TB?
If a 4 TB hard drive (let’s say 4000 MB, for simplicity’s sake) costs $50, how much is that per GB?
4 TB = 4000 GB $50 / 4000 GB = 0,0125 $/GB $0,0125 x 1000 = 12.5 $/TB
How to use the Price per Terabyte Calculator table below?
Below you will find our automatic hard drive price per TB/GB tool, designed to crawl many, MANY different eShops and divide their cost between the available storage. This allows us to rank/list these drives by the largest amount of terabytes youwill get for your money. This list includes popular hard drive manufacturers, such as Seagate, WD and Toshiba, allowing you to ensure that you are getting excellent value for money on your storage, as well as only choosing the most reputable HDD makers in the world. Before you head down there though, take a moment to quick familiarize yourself with a few key factors that will aid you in understanding how to understand what separates one HDD from another
CMR VS SMR HDDs
You can filter CMR drives only if you need better performance (more info). SMR drives are acceptable in RAID1/0 or no raid setup.
Seagate VS WD Hard Drives?
You can go brand specific such as Seagate, WD, and Toshiba. WD might offer things like OptiNAND
| WD Hard Drive Buyers Guide | Seagate Hard Drive Buyers Guide |
Home vs Business Hard Drives, is there a difference?
You can also choose a specific type of drives such as for home use you would use a filter (WD Red or Ironwolf. For business use in a NAS with 8 bays and above filter would look like WD RED Pro or Ironwolf Pro. For enterprise drives, you would choose Exos, HGST, Gold or Ultrastar. For surveillance, you would choose a filter “purple” or “Surveillance”. For simple desktop use you would choose Barracuda, Black or Blue drives. The colours are explained here.
6TB vs 8TB, or 10TB vs 20TB – Which is Best?
You may choose bigger capacity drives if you have fewer drive bays on your NAS. This limits your options for mixing drives smarter way. You might realise that bigger drives but fewer of them can actually be cheaper than smaller drives that use every drive bay.
| NOTE – Use the GREEN Bar (ideally for NAS users) to enter your number of bays, RAID failure protection level, budget and whether you want NAS optimized drives only |
| Note – Use the YELLOW Bar to filter the results by brand, price per TB range, strict capacity and recording method |
LAST UPDATED: May 13, 2024 00:02
| $18.11 | WD Western Digital 18TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD181KFGX WD181KFGX | 18TB | CMR | 326 | Link |
| $18.77 | WD Western Digital 18TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD181PURP WD181PURP | 18TB | CMR | 338 | Link |
| $20 | WD Western Digital 10TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101EFBX WD101EFBX | 10TB | CMR | 200 | Link |
| $21.67 | WD Western Digital 12TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD121PURP WD121PURP | 12TB | CMR | 260 | Link |
| $21.71 | WD Western Digital 14TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD140PURZ WD140PURZ | 14TB | CMR | 304 | Link |
| $21.77 | WD Western Digital 14TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD141PURP WD141PURP | 14TB | CMR | 305 | Link |
| $22 | WD Western Digital 10TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101EFAX WD101EFAX | 10TB | CMR | 220 | Link |
| $23.83 | WD Western Digital 12TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD121PURZ WD121PURZ | 12TB | CMR | 286 | Link |
| $24 | WD Western Digital 10TB WD Purple Pro Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101PURP WD101PURP | 10TB | CMR | 240 | Link |
| $24.08 | WD Western Digital 12TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD121KFBX WD121KFBX | 12TB | CMR | 289 | Link |
| $24.45 | wd Western Digital 6TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5640 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 128 MB Cache, 3.5" -WD60EFZX WD60EFZX | 6TB | CMR | 147 | Link |
| $24.88 | Toshiba Toshiba 233588 Hd Mg06aca800e 3.5 8tb Sata 6gb S 7.2k Rpm 256m 512e Bare MG06ACA800E | 8TB | CMR | 199 | Link |
| $25.32 | WD Western Digital 6TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD60PURZ WD60PURZ | 6TB | CMR | 152 | Link |
| $25.66 | WD WD Purple 6TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD60PURX [Old Version] WD60PURX | 6TB | CMR | 154 | Link |
| $26 | Seagate Seagate - ST8000VX004 Skyhawk ST8000VX004 8 TB Hard Drive - 3.5 Internal - SATA (SATA/600) - Video Surveillance System, Network Video Recorder Device Supported - 256 MB Buffer ST8000VX004 | 8TB | CMR | 208 | Link |
| $26 | WD Western Digital 3TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD30EZAZ WD30EZAZ | 3TB | SMR | 78 | Link |
| $26.44 | WD Western Digital 10TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive - SATA 6 Gb/s, , 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101PURZ (Old Version) WD101PURZ | 10TB | CMR | 264 | Link |
| $27.14 | WD Western Digital 14TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD141KFGX WD141KFGX | 14TB | CMR | 357 | Link |
| $27.5 | WD Western Digital 14TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 GB/s, CMR, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD140EFGX WD140EFGX | 14TB | CMR | 385 | Link |
| $27.74 | WD WD 6TB 3.5" Re+ SATA III 128 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Enterprise Hard Drive (WD6005FRPZ) WD6005FRPZ | 6TB | CMR | 166 | Link |
| $28 | WD Western Digital 4TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD40PURZ WD40PURZ | 4TB | CMR | 112 | Link |
| $28.04 | WD WD Purple 8TB Surveillance Hard Disk Drive - 5400 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 128MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD80PURZ WD80PURZ | 8TB | CMR | 224 | Link |
| $31.25 | WD Western Digital 8TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD82PURZ WD82PURZ | 8TB | CMR | 232 | Link |
| $31.66 | WD Western Digital 3TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD30PURZ WD30PURZ | 3TB | CMR | 95 | Link |
| $32.5 | WD Western Digital 6TB WD Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD6003FZBX WD6003FZBX | 6TB | CMR | 195 | Link |
| $32.78 | WD Western Digital 6TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD6003FFBX WD6003FFBX | 6TB | CMR | 197 | Link |
| $32.98 | WD WD30EZRX - WD WD30EZRX WD30EZRX | 3TB | CMR | 99 | Link |
| $34.17 | Seagate Seagate IronWolf ST6000VN001 6 TB Hard Drive - 3.5" Internal - SATA (SATA/600) - Storage System Device Supported - 7200rpm - 256 MB Buffer St6000vn001 | 6TB | CMR | 205 | Link |
| $34.46 | Seagate Seagate Skyhawk Surveillance ST3000VX009 3TB SATA 6.0 Gb/s 256MB Hard Drive ST3000VX009 | 3TB | CMR | 103 | Link |
| $35 | WD Western Digital 4TB WD Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD4005FZBX WD4005FZBX | 4TB | CMR | 140 | Link |
| $36.5 | WD Western Digital 2TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD20PURZ WD20PURZ | 2TB | CMR | 73 | Link |
| $38.66 | WD Western Digital 3TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD30EZRZ WD30EZRZ | 3TB | CMR | 116 | Link |
| $41 | WD Western Digital Caviar Green 3.5inch 2.0TB 64MB SATA 6.0Gbps WD20EARX WD20EARX | 2TB | CMR | 82 | Link |
| $43.4 | WD 8 TB SATA WD80EZAZ-11TDBA0 5400rpm 256MB 3.5" Hard Drive WD80EZAZ | 8TB | CMR | 347 | Link |
| $45 | WD WD Gold 4TB Enterprise Class Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM Class SATA 6 Gb/s 128MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD4002FYYZ WD4002FYYZ | 4TB | CMR | 180 | Link |
| $45.9 | WD Western Digital 2TB WD Blue PC Internal Hard Drive - 5400 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, , 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD20EZRZ wd20ezrz | 2TB | CMR | 92 | Link |
| $46 | WD Western Digital 10TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive - 7200 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD101KFBX (Old Version) WD101KFBX | 10TB | CMR | 460 | Link |
| $47.3 | WD WD Black 6TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 128MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD6001FZWX WD6001FZWX | 6TB | CMR | 284 | Link |
| $47.5 | WD Western Digital 2TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 128 MB Cache, 3.5" -WD20EFZX WD20EFZX | 2TB | CMR | 95 | Link |
| $48.75 | WD Western Digital 2TB WD Gold Enterprise Class Internal Hard Drive - 7200 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, 128 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD2005FBYZ WD2005FBYZ | 2TB | CMR | 97 | Link |
| $50 | WD Western Digital 2TB WD Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD2003FZEX WD2003FZEX | 2TB | CMR | 85 | Link |
| $57.8 | WD Western Digital 1TB WD Purple Surveillance Internal Hard Drive HDD - SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD10PURZ WD10PURZ | 1TB | CMR | 58 | Link |
| $66.4 | Seagate ST4000VN008 3.5 inch SATA3 Cool Wolf Desktop NAS Mechanical Hard Drive 4T Non-red Disk ST4000VN008 | 4TB | CMR | 266 | Link |
| $67.73 | WD ZZZZS WD40EFRX 4T 3.5" NAS Storage Server Hard Disk 5400 RPM 64M SATA WD40EFRX | 4TB | CMR | 271 | Link |
| $86.37 | WD Western Digital 1TB WD Gold Enterprise Class Internal Hard Drive - 7200 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, 128 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD1005FBYZ WD1005FBYZ | 1TB | CMR | 86 | Link |
| $88.2 | WD Western Digital 1TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 5400 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD10EFRX WD10EFRX | 1TB | CMR | 66 | Link |
| $126.38 | WD Western Digital 500GB WD Black Performance Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD5003AZEX WD5003AZEX | 500GB | CMR | 54 | Link |
What is the cost of 500GB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $54 [US]
What is the cost of 1TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $57.8 [US]
What is the cost of 2TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $73 [US]
What is the cost of 3TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $78 [US]
What is the cost of 4TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $112 [US]
What is the cost of 6TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $146.7 [US]
What is the cost of 8TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $199 [US]
What is the cost of 10TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $199.99 [US]
What is the cost of 12TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $259.99 [US]
What is the cost of 14TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $303.9 [US]
What is the cost of 18TB drive?
The price of the cheapest drive is $325.99 [US]
How much can 500GB hold?
500GB can hold around
166667 MP3 songs
OR 100000 5MB Photos
OR 33333 FLAC audio files
OR 714 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 59 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 10 Blu-ray
OR 0.5 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 1TB hold?
1TB can hold around
333333 MP3 songs
OR 200000 5MB Photos
OR 66667 FLAC audio files
OR 1429 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 118 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 20 Blu-ray
OR 1 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 2TB hold?
2TB can hold around
666667 MP3 songs
OR 400000 5MB Photos
OR 133333 FLAC audio files
OR 2857 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 235 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 40 Blu-ray
OR 2 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 3TB hold?
3TB can hold around
1000000 MP3 songs
OR 600000 5MB Photos
OR 200000 FLAC audio files
OR 4286 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 353 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 60 Blu-ray
OR 3 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 4TB hold?
4TB can hold around
1333333 MP3 songs
OR 800000 5MB Photos
OR 266667 FLAC audio files
OR 5714 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 471 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 80 Blu-ray
OR 4 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 6TB hold?
6TB can hold around
2000000 MP3 songs
OR 1200000 5MB Photos
OR 400000 FLAC audio files
OR 8571 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 706 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 120 Blu-ray
OR 6 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 8TB hold?
8TB can hold around
2666667 MP3 songs
OR 1600000 5MB Photos
OR 533333 FLAC audio files
OR 11429 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 941 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 160 Blu-ray
OR 8 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 10TB hold?
10TB can hold around
3333333 MP3 songs
OR 2000000 5MB Photos
OR 666667 FLAC audio files
OR 14286 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 1176 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 200 Blu-ray
OR 10 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 12TB hold?
12TB can hold around
4000000 MP3 songs
OR 2400000 5MB Photos
OR 800000 FLAC audio files
OR 17143 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 1412 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 240 Blu-ray
OR 12 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 14TB hold?
14TB can hold around
4666667 MP3 songs
OR 2800000 5MB Photos
OR 933333 FLAC audio files
OR 20000 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 1647 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 280 Blu-ray
OR 14 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
How much can 18TB hold?
18TB can hold around
6000000 MP3 songs
OR 3600000 5MB Photos
OR 1200000 FLAC audio files
OR 25714 HD Movies or Audio CDs
OR 2118 4K Movies or DVDs
OR 360 Blu-ray
OR 18 Surveillance cameras (30 days)
Actual size of 500GB drive?
500GB HDD can have around 466 GB usable storage space
Actual size of 1TB drive?
1TB HDD can have around 931 GB usable storage space
Actual size of 2TB drive?
2TB HDD can have around 1.863 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 3TB drive?
3TB HDD can have around 2.794 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 4TB drive?
4TB HDD can have around 3.725 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 6TB drive?
6TB HDD can have around 5.588 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 8TB drive?
8TB HDD can have around 7.451 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 10TB drive?
10TB HDD can have around 9.313 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 12TB drive?
12TB HDD can have around 11.176 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 14TB drive?
14TB HDD can have around 13.039 TB usable storage space
Actual size of 18TB drive?
18TB HDD can have around 16.764 TB usable storage space
How do I find the actual hard drive size?
The hard drive capacity calculation method of the Manufacturer is: 120GB=120,000MB=120,000,000KB=120,000,000,000 bytes; while the hard drive capacity calculation method of is: 120,000,000,000 bytes/1024=117,187,500KB/1024=114, 440.9MB/1024=111.8GB.
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