Measure current size
Read the archive folder’s actual total size or storage report. Keep the unit consistent and exclude unrelated files.
Calculator / Browser only
Project archive size from an annual growth rate
Estimate future photo-library size when a collection grows by a chosen percentage each year.
Choose an annual rate
Estimate growth from recent photo counts and average file sizes. A single rate smooths out seasons and project spikes.
Compare planning horizons
Try several year values and growth assumptions. Add headroom for new camera formats, exports, catalogs, and copies before selecting storage.
Your measurements
Browser onlyIllustrative inputs. Replace them with your own measurements or quotations; these are not live offers. Enter decimals without thousands separators.
Worked example
Starting at 800 GB with 25% annual growth for four years gives 800 × 1.25⁴ = 1,953.125 GB. Added space is 1,153.125 GB; average annual addition over the horizon is about 288.281 GB.
Buying guide
Compounding assumption
A 25% annual increase is modeled as multiplying by 1.25 each year. Over four periods, the factor is 1.25⁴, not simply adding 100% once.
Not an observed forecast
The percentage is your input, not a market or camera prediction. New equipment or shooting habits can change annual volume.
Storage overhead
This estimate excludes filesystem allocation, backups, catalogs, temporary exports, and spare capacity. A drive should not be planned to its exact nominal limit.
Questions before you buy
Should I use last year’s growth rate?
It can be a starting point, but compare several periods if your shooting activity is seasonal or has changed.
Does it include a second copy?
No. This is the size of one projected archive. Additional copies are a separate capacity decision.
Sources & assumptions
- Published storage plan capacities (pCloud)Check the provider’s advertised capacity when comparing plans. The growth estimate uses the starting size and rate you enter.
Source reviewed: