Buying guide
Project archive size from an annual growth rate
Estimate future photo-library size when a collection grows by a chosen percentage each year.
A growing photo archive can outpace a drive that seemed spacious when first purchased. Enter the current archive size, an assumed annual growth rate, and a planning horizon. The model compounds the same rate once per year, then reports projected size and added space. It does not predict actual shooting volume, compression, edits, video additions, or drive overhead. Use a range of growth assumptions if your yearly work changes substantially.
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.
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.
What this does not decide
- Does the calculator use decimal GB? Yes. It multiplies the numeric size you enter; confirm whether your file manager reports GB or GiB.
- Can growth be zero? Yes. The projected archive remains the current size for any horizon.
- Values and outputs use the stated assumptions; verify dimensions and device-specific requirements before acting.
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: