The Truth About External Hard Drive Storage: How Many TB Do You Actually Need?

Here’s what no one tells you: bigger is not always better when it comes to external hard drives.

The biggest misconception is that you should always go for the highest storage capacity available—4TB, 8TB, 16TB, or even more. But in reality, the right amount of storage depends on what you actually need it for. If you overspend on unnecessary storage, you're wasting money. If you underestimate your needs, you'll run out of space faster than you think.

So, how many TB is really recommended for an external hard drive? Let’s break it down.

1. Understanding Your Storage Needs: What Are You Using It For?

Before picking a TB size, ask yourself what kind of data you’ll be storing. This will help determine whether you need a compact 1TB drive or a massive 16TB storage solution.

Casual Use (Basic Documents, Photos, and Music) – 1TB to 2TB

• If you just need extra space for work documents, spreadsheets, photos, and music, 1TB to 2TB is more than enough.
• Most Word documents and PDFs are only a few MB each, and even thousands of high-resolution photos won’t exceed 1TB quickly.

Gaming Storage (PC, PS5, Xbox) – 2TB to 8TB

• Modern AAA games can take 50GB to 200GB per title.
• A 1TB hard drive can hold roughly 5 to 10 games before filling up.
• If you play frequently and don’t want to constantly delete games, 4TB to 8TB is ideal for serious gamers.

Video Editing and Content Creation – 4TB to 16TB+

• 4K videos can take up 300GB per hour; 8K footage takes even more.
• A 2TB drive will fill up very fast for professionals working with high-resolution video.
• For video editors, filmmakers, and YouTubers, 8TB to 16TB+ is the sweet spot.

Backup and Archiving – 4TB to 10TB

• If you’re backing up an entire PC or multiple devices, you need at least twice the size of your internal storage.
• A 4TB to 10TB drive is ideal for long-term data storage without worrying about running out of space.

2. The Pitfalls of Buying Too Much or Too Little Storage

The Mistake of Going Too Small

• If you buy a 1TB drive and later realize you need 4TB, you’ll end up buying another drive, which costs more in the long run.
• Many people underestimate how quickly storage fills up—especially with videos, games, and high-resolution images.

The Mistake of Going Too Big

• A 16TB external hard drive might seem future-proof, but if you don’t need it, you’re just wasting money.
• Higher-capacity drives fail just as often as smaller ones, so if you don’t fill them up, you’re sitting on expensive unused space.

Best Strategy? Buy slightly more storage than you need—but not so much that you're overpaying for empty space.

3. HDD vs. SSD: Which One Should You Get?

Choosing the right storage capacity also depends on whether you're getting an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive).

HDD (Hard Disk Drive) – Large Storage for Less Money
Best for backups, long-term storage, and media libraries.
More affordable: A 4TB HDD costs about the same as a 1TB SSD.
Slower than SSDs, making it less ideal for gaming and editing.

SSD (Solid State Drive) – Speed Over Capacity
Much faster read/write speeds for gaming, video editing, and performance-heavy tasks.
More expensive: A 4TB SSD costs significantly more than a 4TB HDD.
Less likely to fail due to no moving parts.

Verdict:

• For backups and general storage → Go with an HDD (4TB-10TB).
• For gaming, fast file transfers, and editing → Get an SSD (2TB-4TB).

4. Cloud Storage vs. External Hard Drive: Which One Is Better?

Some people wonder if they even need an external hard drive when cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) exists. But cloud storage has limitations.

Why Cloud Storage Isn’t a Replacement for an External Drive:
Monthly fees can add up over time (whereas an external HDD/SSD is a one-time purchase).
Slow transfer speeds compared to a direct external drive.
Not private—your data is stored on third-party servers, meaning potential security risks.

Best Strategy? Use an external hard drive for large storage and cloud storage for essential backups.

5. So, How Many TB Should You Buy? (Final Recommendation Chart)

Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right external hard drive capacity:

General Rule: If you're unsure, 4TB is the safest choice—enough for most users without being overkill.

Final Verdict: The Right TB Size Depends on Your Needs

Casual users? 1TB to 2TB is plenty.
Gamers and media lovers? 4TB to 8TB gives breathing room.
Professionals? 8TB+ is essential.
For speed and performance? Get an SSD.
For long-term storage? Get an HDD.

The worst mistake? Buying the wrong storage size and having to upgrade too soon. Now that you know what’s best for your needs, make the right choice and invest in the ideal external hard drive!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.