PhotoCalcs
Image Backup Calculator — Storage Planning
Calculate total storage needed for your photo archive, external drive sizing, and compare cloud vs local backup costs using the 3-2-1 rule.
How We Calculate This
This calculator estimates total archive size over time, then calculates storage needs with multiple backup copies following the 3-2-1 rule.
The formula
Total storage = Images/year x File size x Years
With backups = Total storage x Backup copies
Frequently Asked Questions
The 3-2-1 rule means keeping 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy offsite. For photographers this typically means the working drive, a local backup drive, and a cloud backup service.
RAW files from modern cameras are typically 25-60MB. JPEGs are 5-15MB. If you shoot RAW+JPEG, use a combined average. A full-frame 45MP camera produces ~50MB RAW files, while a 24MP APS-C camera produces ~25MB RAW files.
Cloud storage for photographers typically costs £5-10 per month per TB. Services like Backblaze B2 are cheaper (~£6/TB/month) while Google One and iCloud are around £8-10/TB/month. The default uses £80/TB/year (≈ £6.67/TB/month).
External hard drives typically last 3-5 years with regular use. SSDs last longer (5-10 years) but cost more. Budget for drive replacement every 3-5 years, and always keep multiple copies to protect against drive failure.
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.