1 TB drive
A one-terabyte drive is a digital storage device capable of holding large amounts of computer data, such as documents, media and software.
How big is it?
1 TB · data
Data · example
A little perspective
1 TB drive vs 512 GB drive: data size comparison
The data size of a 1 TB drive is about 1.95 times the data size of a 512 GB drive.
BYTES OF DATA
A one-terabyte drive is a digital storage device capable of holding large amounts of computer data, such as documents, media and software.
Laptop storage is the internal memory where a laptop saves its files, applications and operating system data.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
1 TB drive
Data: 1 TB; example.
One trillion advertised bytes: approximately 931 GiB. This is not a loss of physical storage.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked data is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
512 GB drive
Data: 512 GB; example.
512 billion bytes of advertised decimal capacity. Binary displays report a smaller numerical GiB count.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked data is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 1 TB
We compare the data size of a 1 TB drive. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.
One trillion advertised bytes: approximately 931 GiB. This is not a loss of physical storage.
The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 TB | Not recorded | example |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueDigital information512 GB drive512 GBDataLaptop storage is the internal memory where a laptop saves its files, applications and operating system data.
Nearest higher valueDigital informationAutonomous vehicle sensor data per hour4 TBDefined uncompressed sensor-data volumeThe total uncompressed digital information generated by all sensors on a self-driving vehicle in one hour, including cameras, lidar and radar.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
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Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
DigitalText page3 kBA digital file containing one page of plain text characters without formatting or embedded fonts.
DigitalCompressed photo3 MBA compressed photo is a digital image file that has been processed to reduce the amount of data needed to store or transmit it.Digital128 GB phone128 GBPhone storage is the digital memory in a mobile phone used to keep apps, photos, videos and other files.Digital512 GB drive512 GBLaptop storage is the internal memory where a laptop saves its files, applications and operating system data.DigitalAutonomous vehicle sensor data per hour4 TBThe total uncompressed digital information generated by all sensors on a self-driving vehicle in one hour, including cameras, lidar and radar.DigitalSingle-cell RNA sequencing dataset100 GBA single-cell RNA sequencing dataset is a digital collection of gene expression data measured from individual cells using sequencing technology.DigitalOpenStreetMap planet file88 GBThe OpenStreetMap planet file is a digital file containing all global geographic data contributed to OpenStreetMap as of a specific date.DigitalCommercial aircraft flight-data recording per flight100 GBThe digital information collected from a commercial aircraft’s systems and sensors throughout a single flight for monitoring and analysis.