On media alone, LTO-9 is the cheapest tape per terabyte in the US, at $5.14 to $6.20 per TB in September 2026. Once you count the drive, an LTO-8 system costs less per terabyte stored for almost any archive a single team runs, because an LTO-8 drive costs about $4,100 less than an LTO-9 drive. LTO-10 makes sense when density matters more than price.
The figures below use the midpoint of new US seller listings from our LTO price tracker, checked on 17 September 2026, before tax and shipping.
Media cost per terabyte
Cartridge price divided by native capacity is the number most comparisons quote. It favours the two newest mainstream generations by a wide margin over older ones.
| Generation | Native capacity | Cartridge price | Per native TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTO-6 | 2.5 TB | $38 to $56 | $15.20 to $22.58 |
| LTO-7 | 6 TB | $60 to $80 | $10.00 to $13.33 |
| LTO-8 | 12 TB | $70 to $80 | $5.83 to $6.67 |
| LTO-9 | 18 TB | $92 to $112 | $5.14 to $6.20 |
| LTO-10 | 30 TB | $256 to $300 | $8.53 to $10.00 |
| LTO-10 (40 TB cartridge) | 40 TB | $491 to $555 | $12.28 to $13.88 |
Total cost per terabyte stored
A tape system is cartridges plus at least one drive. Spread the drive over the archive and the order changes. We count one copy, one drive below 500 TB and two drives from 500 TB, so a backup and a restore can run at the same time.
| Archive size | LTO-8 | LTO-9 | LTO-10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 TB | $71 per TB | $112 per TB | $247 per TB |
| 500 TB | $32 per TB | $48 per TB | $104 per TB |
| 1,000 TB | $19 per TB | $27 per TB | $57 per TB |
| 2,000 TB | $13 per TB | $16 per TB | $33 per TB |
LTO-9 saves about $0.58 per terabyte on media against LTO-8 at midpoint prices, while its drive costs about $4,100 more. It takes roughly 7 PB per drive before the media saving pays back the drive.
Why many buyers still pick LTO-9
Price per terabyte is not the only measure of value. LTO-9 needs 56 cartridges per petabyte against 84 for LTO-8, which means fewer library slots, fewer labels and less handling. An LTO-9 drive also reads and writes LTO-8 cartridges, so it carries an existing LTO-8 archive forward, while an LTO-8 drive reads back only to LTO-7. If you expect to grow past a few hundred terabytes or to buy a library, LTO-9 is usually the safer long-term choice. See the LTO-9 price guide and the LTO-8 price guide.
Where LTO-10 fits
LTO-10 holds 30 TB per cartridge, or 40 TB on the newer cartridge, so it packs the most data into a library slot. In September 2026 only full-height drives were on sale, at $22,165 to $24,950, and LTO-10 drives read LTO-10 only. That makes it a choice for large libraries short on slots rather than for value per terabyte. Details are in the LTO-10 price guide.
Older generations
LTO-6 and LTO-7 cartridges cost two to four times as much per terabyte as LTO-9 and the drives are older stock. Buy them only to read or extend an archive you already have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest LTO tape per terabyte in 2026?
LTO-9, at $5.14 to $6.20 per native TB from US sellers in September 2026. LTO-8 is close behind at $5.83 to $6.67.
Is LTO-8 still worth buying in 2026?
For an archive below a few petabytes, yes on cost: the drive is about $4,100 cheaper than LTO-9. LTO-9 is the better long-term choice if you need fewer cartridges or want to read LTO-8 tapes in future.
When does LTO-10 give the best value?
When library slots or floor space are the constraint. Per terabyte, LTO-10 media and drives cost more than LTO-9 at current prices.
Does compression change the cost per terabyte?
Only for data that compresses. Vendors quote 2.5 to 1, but video, images and encrypted files store close to native capacity, so plan on native figures.
Size your own archive with the backup calculator, or ask us for a volume quote on cartridges.