1 TB of storage equals 1,000 GB of data – that’s about 8 smartphones with 128 GB capacity

What is a terabyte?

When talking about data storage, systems are often measured in terabytes, but most files seen on a daily basis are stored in gigabytes or megabytes. So how many gigabytes or megabytes are in a terabyte? 1 TB equals 1,000 gigabytes (GB) or 1,000,000 megabytes (MB).

Now, let’s compare that to physical storage devices we use everyday. Compared to the average smartphone, 1 TB of storage is the same as roughly 8 (128 GB) iPhones or Samsung Galaxy devices. 1 TB is also about 4 (256 GB) Windows or MacBook laptops – and some storage space is eaten up by system software. And, individual external hard drives often start at 1 TB of storage, with options that go up to 4 TB.

Files being added to 1 terabyte of online storage space

How much data can 1 TB hold?

The average user stores a mix of photos, videos and documents. When you’re setting up a backup plan – either to save device space or preserve files – it’s hard to gauge how many photos and videos 1 terabyte of data can hold. 1 TB gives you the option of storing roughly:

250,000 photos taken with a 12MP camera;
250 films or 500 hours of HD video; or
6.5 million document pages, commonly stored as Office files, PDFs and presentations. It’s also equal to 1,300 physical filing cabinets of paper!

A wide range of files stored in the cloud

Store it all in cloud storage

If your phone runs out of space, you’re probably not carrying around a second one. The cloud gives you an easier way to store a large amount of data, including photos, videos and important files. When you store content in the cloud, you’ll be able to do more with it, like:

Store everything without being picky about what you save. It’s also advised to follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of a file on 2 separate medias, with 1 copy on a cloud drive.
Stop running out of space by moving files off your device or hard drive. Dropbox Smart Sync can help by automatically moving content to the cloud.
Access files or work remotely, whenever it’s needed – even from mobile devices

User selecting online folder access using Dropbox Smart Sync to save space

Is 1 TB enough data for you?

Dropbox has plans for individuals and teams with 1 TB or more of storage and can grow with your needs. Store all your photos, videos, personal files and work projects with ease.

Dropbox Plus comes with 2 TB of storage
Dropbox Professional has 3 TB of storage
Dropbox Business starts at 5 TB of storage (or as much storage as you need depending on your plan, so you don’t fret about space or need external hard drives)