Storage Lifespan Calculator

Estimate how long your storage media will retain data based on type, usage, and environment

Storage Type *

Usage Pattern *

Environment *

About Storage Lifespan

All storage media eventually fails or loses data. SSDs leak charge when unpowered, HDDs suffer mechanical wear, and flash drives use lower-quality memory. Understanding these limitations helps you plan backups, choose the right media for your needs, and avoid unexpected data loss. This calculator estimates how long your data will remain safe under different conditions.

How to Use

1 Select your storage type (SSD, HDD, flash drive, etc.)
2 Choose your usage pattern (archival, daily use, always-on)
3 Select the storage environment (temperature conditions)
4 Click Estimate Lifespan to see the results

FAQ

Do SSDs lose data when powered off?

Yes, SSDs can lose data when stored unpowered for extended periods. Flash cells slowly leak their electrical charge over time. At room temperature, consumer SSDs may start losing data after 1-2 years unpowered. Enterprise SSDs can lose data faster (weeks to months) if stored unpowered at high temperatures. Power on archival SSDs every 6-12 months to refresh the data.

Are HDDs better for long-term storage?

For unpowered archival storage, HDDs are generally better than SSDs. HDDs store data magnetically, which doesn't degrade as quickly without power. However, HDDs are vulnerable to mechanical failure when actively used. For always-on storage, SSDs are more reliable since they have no moving parts to wear out.

What's the most reliable long-term storage?

M-DISC is the most durable consumer storage, designed to last 1000+ years. For practical purposes: archival HDDs stored properly can last 10-15+ years, and cloud storage with redundancy is also highly reliable. The 3-2-1 backup rule (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite) is the safest approach.

How does temperature affect storage lifespan?

Heat accelerates degradation in all storage types. SSDs are especially sensitive - high temperatures cause faster charge leakage from flash cells. HDDs can suffer from lubricant breakdown and platter warping. Optimal storage temperature is 20-25°C (68-77°F). Every 10°C increase roughly halves storage lifespan.

What is TBW and why does it matter?

TBW (Terabytes Written) is the total amount of data that can be written to an SSD before cells start failing. A 500GB SSD rated at 300 TBW can handle 300 TB of writes over its lifetime. Normal consumer use (30-50 GB/day) won't approach this limit for most users, but heavy workloads (video editing, databases) can.

What does it mean to refresh data?

Refreshing means rewriting data to reset the retention clock. For SSDs, simply powering them on lets the controller refresh charge in flash cells. For HDDs and flash drives, copy the data to fresh media. For optical discs, burn new copies. Always verify data integrity after refreshing.

How often should I refresh my backups?

SSDs: Power on every 6-12 months if stored unpowered
HDDs: Copy to new drive every 3-5 years
USB/SD cards: Copy annually, and always keep a second copy
Optical media: Burn new discs every 5-10 years

Calculator Limitations

• Estimates are based on typical conditions. Individual drives may fail earlier or last longer.
• Manufacturing quality varies significantly between brands and even batches of the same product.
• Physical damage, power surges, and firmware bugs can cause sudden failure regardless of age.
• Always follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies, 2 different media types, 1 offsite location.

Storage Lifespan Calculator

Further Reading

How Long Will Your SSD Actually Last? We Calculated It