UK 4x 12TB RAID-Z2 NAS Calculator

Estimate usable TB, parity, and fault tolerance for UK homelab buyers using 4x 12TB in RAID-Z2.

Capacity Snapshot

Raw Capacity

48.00 TB

Usable Capacity

21.60 TB

Fault Tolerance

2 drives

Efficiency

50.0%

Popular TrueNAS default for medium arrays; dual-parity with good safety margin. This scenario applies a 10% filesystem reserve.

Run Interactive Calculator →

Alternative Mode Comparison

Mode	Usable	Tolerance	Efficiency
RAID 5	32.40 TB	1 drive	75.0%
RAID 6	21.60 TB	2 drives	50.0%
RAID 10	21.60 TB	1 drive per mirror pair*	50.0%
RAID-Z1	32.40 TB	1 drive	75.0%
RAID-Z2	21.60 TB	2 drives	50.0%

UK Buyer Context

UK homelab planners commonly balance higher per-drive pricing with power and chassis constraints, so efficient but resilient layouts become more valuable.

• Model dual-parity options early if rebuild time is a concern.
• Include reserve headroom to avoid running pools at high fill percentages.

Brand / Region Glossary

Power Budget

Expected always-on energy usage cost factored into NAS layout decisions.

Rebuild Window

Estimated time exposure while replacing a failed drive and restoring parity.

NAS Cluster Guides

NAS Hub RAID Level Compare RAID Capacity Matrix Planning Quick Sheet RAID Selector NAS FAQ

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

Sequential Long-Tail Navigation

← Previous: US 4x 12TB RAID-Z2 NAS Calculator Next: EU 4x 12TB RAID-Z2 NAS Calculator →

FAQ

Why include a 10% reserve when planning NAS storage headroom?

Keeping free space improves filesystem behavior for snapshots, metadata, and write performance. Full arrays often perform worse and rebuild more slowly.

Should I optimize this 4-drive plan for available space or resiliency first?

For long-lived NAS pools, resiliency first is usually safer. Capacity can be expanded later, while a risky parity choice can force migration sooner.

Can this calculator replace real-world benchmark and rebuild testing?

No. Use this page for pre-purchase sizing, then validate with workload benchmarks, SMART health policy, and a tested restore plan.

Is RAID-Z2 still viable with 12TB drives?

It can be practical, but larger drives increase rebuild windows. Validate parity choice and backup policy before committing to the final layout.