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RAID 1 vs RAID 5 Storage Capacity Calculator

Compare usable capacity, fault tolerance, and efficiency between RAID 1 and RAID 5 for NAS and homelab arrays.

Comparison Notes

This page compares RAID 1 and RAID 5 on identical hardware assumptions to help homelab builders choose between capacity efficiency and fault tolerance.

  • Disk size baseline: 8TB drives
  • Reserve policy: 10% filesystem headroom
  • Use the interactive tool for exact real-world constraints
Open Interactive Planner →

Storage Capacity Table

Drives RAID 1 RAID 5 Delta
4x 8TB 7.20 TB 21.60 TB -14.40 TB
6x 8TB 7.20 TB 36.00 TB -28.80 TB
8x 8TB 7.20 TB 50.40 TB -43.20 TB
10x 8TB 7.20 TB 64.80 TB -57.60 TB
12x 8TB 7.20 TB 79.20 TB -72.00 TB

Related Long-Tail Calculators

2x 4TB RAID 1 2x 6TB RAID 1 2x 8TB RAID 1 2x 10TB RAID 1 2x 12TB RAID 1 2x 14TB RAID 1 2x 16TB RAID 1 2x 18TB RAID 1 2x 20TB RAID 1 3x 4TB RAID 1 3x 4TB RAID 5 3x 4TB RAID-Z1 3x 6TB RAID 1 3x 6TB RAID 5 3x 6TB RAID-Z1 3x 8TB RAID 1

FAQ

Does this comparison include filesystem reserve?

Yes. The comparison table applies a 10% reserve baseline to reflect realistic operating headroom in NAS and homelab environments.

Can two layouts with similar available space still have very different rebuild risk?

Yes. Similar usable TB does not imply similar failure tolerance or rebuild exposure. Capacity and resiliency should be evaluated together.

Which has more effective capacity: RAID 1 or RAID 5?

This NAS planning scenario compares both modes at fixed drive sizes so you can see usable capacity differences before buying disks.

Does RAID 1 rebuild faster than RAID 5?

Rebuild behavior depends on array width, disk size, and workload pressure. This page focuses on capacity and tolerance; benchmark your actual platform before final choice.