Infrastructure & Storage

Backup Storage Calculator

Estimate retained full and incremental backup storage after compression.

Calculations run in your browser. The tool does not send your inputs to a server.

01Your inputs

Local workspace

Start with the sample below, or enter your own values.

Full backup (GB)Enter a numeric value using the unit shown in the label.

Retained full backupsEnter a numeric value using the unit shown in the label.

Retained incrementalsEnter a numeric value using the unit shown in the label.

Daily change (%)Enter a percentage as a number, such as 85 for 85%.

Compression ratioEnter the numeric ratio: use 2 for 2:1.

02Your result

Your result will appear here. Choose an action after checking your inputs.

A quick guide

How to use this tool

Check the example and the unit beside each input.
Enter your values and choose Calculate.
Review the result and assumptions, then copy what you need.

Reset example restores the starting values. Clear removes text and number inputs, returns choices to their first valid option, and removes the result.

Reference guide

Explanation and worked examples

The model adds full copies plus daily changed data for each incremental, then divides by the compression ratio. A 2:1 ratio halves the modelled storage.

Use in day-to-day IT work

Estimate repository space for a simple full-plus-incremental retention plan.

Checks before applying the result

Four 1,000 GB fulls plus 24 incrementals at 5% change, with 2:1 compression, require 2,600 GB in this model.
Include a recoverable full chain, immutability retention, failed-job retries, metadata and free space. Synthetic fulls, deduplication and changing daily data need a product-specific model.

New to the terminology?

IOPS: Input/output operations completed each second.
GiB vs GB: GiB uses powers of 1,024; GB uses powers of 1,000.
Overcommit: Allocating more virtual resources than physically available.

Keep exploring

How calculations work and where the models stop →