SSD RAID Calculator

SSD RAID Calculator

Estimate usable capacity, redundancy, and drive requirements for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 configurations.

RAID is not a backup. RAID protects against drive failure in some configurations, but it does not protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, fire, theft, or multiple simultaneous failures. Keep a separate backup of anything you cannot afford to lose.

1. Choose a RAID Level

2. Enter Your Drives

Choose a RAID level, enter your drives, and click Calculate RAID.

Which RAID Level Should I Choose?

Select your top priority for a general suggestion. This is not a universal answer, since the right choice depends on your full setup and budget.

Capacity figures use decimal units as advertised by manufacturers (1 TB = 1000 GB). Approximate OS reported capacity converts this to the binary units (GiB, TiB) most operating systems display, which is roughly 7 percent smaller. RAID 1 here assumes a single mirror where every drive holds an identical copy of the data. Mixed drive sizes are capped to the smallest member drive, as standard RAID requires equal-sized members.

SSD RAID Calculator

Use the SSD RAID Calculator to estimate raw capacity, usable storage, parity or mirror space, and approximate OS-reported capacity. Compare RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, and RAID 10 before planning your array.

RAID is not a backup. RAID can improve availability after certain drive failures. It cannot protect you from deletion, malware, theft, controller failure, fire, or array corruption.

Calculate Your SSD RAID Storage Capacity

Enter the RAID level, SSD count, and drive capacity in the separate calculator widget. Advanced Mode supports mixed capacities and shows space lost when the array is limited by its smallest SSD.

What Is SSD RAID?

RAID combines multiple drives into one logical storage system. Depending on the level, it can prioritize capacity, performance, redundancy, or a balance of these goals.

RAID behavior also depends on the controller, operating system, enclosure, and vendor implementation. Always confirm the rules for your actual hardware before buying drives.

How the SSD RAID Calculator Works

For traditional arrays, every member is treated as if it has the capacity of the smallest SSD. Larger drives can leave unused space unless the storage platform supports a different layout.

  • Raw capacity: The sum of all installed SSD capacities.
  • Effective array capacity: Smallest SSD capacity multiplied by the number of drives.
  • Usable capacity: Effective capacity after RAID parity or mirroring.
  • Approximate OS capacity: Decimal bytes converted to GiB or TiB.

SSD RAID Levels Explained

RAID 0

RAID 0 stripes data across two or more drives. It provides full effective capacity and no redundancy. One failed member can make the whole array unavailable.

RAID 1

This calculator treats RAID 1 as a full mirror across all selected drives. Usable capacity equals one smallest drive, while the other members store copies. Some platforms handle larger RAID 1 groups differently.

RAID 5

RAID 5 needs at least three drives. One drive-equivalent is used for distributed parity, and the array can tolerate one member failure.

RAID 6

RAID 6 needs at least four drives. Two drive-equivalents are used for dual parity, allowing two member failures.

RAID 10

RAID 10 needs at least four drives and an even drive count. It stripes across mirrored pairs, so about half of effective capacity remains usable.

How Much Usable RAID Storage Will You Get?

Four 2 TB SSDs provide 8 TB of raw advertised capacity. RAID 5 provides 6 TB usable, RAID 6 provides 4 TB, and RAID 10 provides 4 TB under the assumptions used here.

Manufacturers label storage in decimal units. Many operating systems report the same bytes using binary units, so 6 TB is about 5.46 TiB.

RAID 0 vs RAID 1 vs RAID 5 vs RAID 6 vs RAID 10

RAID Minimum drives Usable formula Redundancy Failure tolerance Typical goal
RAID 0 2 N × smallest drive No 0 Maximum capacity and performance
RAID 1 2 1 × smallest drive Full mirror Up to N − 1 under this assumption Simple redundancy
RAID 5 3 (N − 1) × smallest drive Single parity 1 Capacity and redundancy balance
RAID 6 4 (N − 2) × smallest drive Dual parity 2 Stronger failure protection
RAID 10 4, even (N ÷ 2) × smallest drive Mirrored pairs At least 1 Performance and redundancy

How to Choose SSDs for RAID

Start with the interface and form factor supported by your RAID controller, motherboard, NAS, or enclosure.

Browse KingSpec internal SSDs, 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, and PCIe SSDs only after confirming compatibility.

  • Use matching capacities to avoid wasted space.
  • Use the same interface and supported form factor.
  • Review sustained performance and official endurance ratings.
  • Check cooling requirements for closely packed NVMe drives.
  • Verify the storage platform's compatibility list and RAID rules.

Recommended KingSpec SSDs for RAID

The calculator can match your selected per-drive capacity and interface with current KingSpec models. A match means the listed specifications fit the input, not that KingSpec certifies the SSD for every RAID platform.

For more planning guidance, read KingSpec's SSD selection guide for NAS systems. Compatibility with a specific NAS or RAID controller must still be checked separately.

Is RAID a Backup?

No. RAID redundancy may keep a system available during certain drive failures, but every synchronized copy can still be changed or destroyed at once.

Keep a separate backup on another system or location. Test that backup and confirm you can restore it.

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SSD RAID Calculator FAQs

What is an SSD RAID calculator?

It estimates usable capacity, protection space, efficiency, and failure tolerance for a selected RAID level and SSD set.

How do I calculate RAID usable capacity?

Multiply the smallest drive by the number of data-bearing drive equivalents. RAID 5 uses N minus 1, RAID 6 uses N minus 2, and RAID 10 uses N divided by 2.

Which RAID level gives the most storage?

RAID 0 provides all effective array capacity, but it has no redundancy. A single failed member can make the array unavailable.

What is the difference between RAID 0 and RAID 1?

RAID 0 stripes data for capacity and performance. RAID 1 mirrors data for redundancy and provides much less usable capacity.

How much storage do I lose with RAID 5?

Traditional RAID 5 uses one smallest-drive equivalent for parity. Mixed capacities can also leave extra space unused on larger drives.

Can I use different size SSDs in RAID?

Some platforms allow it, but traditional arrays often limit every member to the smallest SSD. Confirm the behavior of your RAID implementation.

Is RAID 10 better than RAID 5?

Neither is always better. RAID 10 favors performance and mirrored pairs, while RAID 5 offers greater capacity efficiency with single-parity protection.

Does RAID replace a backup?

No. Keep a separate, tested backup because RAID does not protect against every data-loss event.