NAS & RAID Calculator

NAS planning example

Region Focus · UK

UK 4x 8TB RAID 10 NAS Calculator

Estimate usable TB, parity, and fault tolerance for UK homelab buyers using 4x 8TB in RAID 10.

Planning route

Answer the capacity question, then validate the purchase path

Use this worked example as a numeric starting point, then validate the RAID choice, capacity reserve, hardware plan, and backup path.

Editorial method

What this calculator can—and cannot—decide

The capacity model makes drive count, drive size, RAID layout, and reserve visible. It is a planning aid: it does not predict exact performance, rebuild duration, hardware compatibility, or the probability of data loss for a specific system.

Last reviewed: July 10, 2026. Product links remain neutral category searches until a partner relationship and page-level disclosure are in place.

Capacity Snapshot

Raw Capacity

32.00 TB

Usable Capacity

14.40 TB

Fault Tolerance

1 drive per mirror pair*

Efficiency

50.0%

Excellent random I/O and rebuild behavior; capacity is typically 50% of raw. This scenario applies a 10% filesystem reserve.

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Alternative Mode Comparison

Mode Usable Tolerance Efficiency
RAID 5 21.60 TB 1 drive 75.0%
RAID 6 14.40 TB 2 drives 50.0%
RAID 10 14.40 TB 1 drive per mirror pair* 50.0%
RAID-Z1 21.60 TB 1 drive 75.0%
RAID-Z2 14.40 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.

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 navigation

Move through the storage decision path

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FAQ

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.

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.

Is RAID 10 still worth deploying with 8TB drives?

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

How much usable storage does 4x 8TB RAID 10 provide?

For UK homelab buyers, this NAS planning scenario estimates 14.40 TB usable after a 10% reserve from 32.00 TB raw.