Backup Size Calculator
Estimate backup storage needs based on data size, change rate, retention period, and backup strategy. Compare full, incremental, and differential backup approaches with cost estimates.
Related Calculators
You might also find these calculators useful
Calculate Your Backup Storage Requirements
Our Backup Size Calculator helps IT administrators and system engineers estimate storage needs for different backup strategies. Compare full, incremental, and differential backups to find the optimal balance between storage costs and recovery speed.
Understanding Backup Storage Calculations
Backup storage requirements depend on your backup strategy, data change rate, and retention policy. Full backups copy everything each time. Incremental backups only copy changes since the last backup. Differential backups copy all changes since the last full backup. Each strategy has trade-offs between storage use and restore complexity.
Backup Size Formula
Total Storage = Full Size + (Change Rate × Retention × Data Size)Why Calculate Backup Storage?
Budget Accurately
Predict storage costs for cloud backup services or local infrastructure.
Choose the Right Strategy
Compare full, incremental, and differential to optimize cost vs recovery time.
Plan Infrastructure
Size storage arrays and purchase appropriate capacity for backup needs.
Meet Compliance Requirements
Ensure adequate retention while managing storage growth.
How to Use This Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Incremental backs up only changes since the last backup (any type). Differential backs up all changes since the last full backup. Incremental uses less space but needs all backups for restore; differential needs only the last full plus latest differential.