What is the capacity of LTO-9?
18 TB native, or 45 TB with 2.5 to 1 compression.
Chart
LTO capacity by generation
| Generation | Released | Native capacity | Compressed | Native speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTO-1 | 2000 | 100 GB | 200 GB (2:1) | 20 MB/s |
| LTO-2 | 2003 | 200 GB | 400 GB (2:1) | 40 MB/s |
| LTO-3 | 2005 | 400 GB | 800 GB (2:1) | 80 MB/s |
| LTO-4 | 2007 | 800 GB | 1.6 TB (2:1) | 120 MB/s |
| LTO-5 | 2010 | 1.5 TB | 3 TB (2:1) | 140 MB/s |
| LTO-6 | 2012 | 2.5 TB | 6.25 TB (2.5:1) | 160 MB/s |
| LTO-7 | 2015 | 6 TB | 15 TB (2.5:1) | 300 MB/s |
| LTO-8 | 2017 | 12 TB | 30 TB (2.5:1) | 360 MB/s |
| LTO-9 | 2021 | 18 TB | 45 TB (2.5:1) | 400 MB/s |
| LTO-10 | 2025 | 30 TB or 40 TB | 75 TB or 100 TB (2.5:1) | 400 MB/s |
| LTO-11 | Roadmap | 70 TB | 175 TB (2.5:1) | Not announced |
| LTO-12 | Roadmap | 120 TB | 300 TB (2.5:1) | Not announced |
| LTO-13 | Roadmap | 210 TB | 525 TB (2.5:1) | Not announced |
| LTO-14 | Roadmap | 365 TB | 913 TB (2.5:1) | Not announced |
Native capacity is what the tape holds. Compressed capacity assumes the drive can compress the data 2 to 1 (up to LTO-5) or 2.5 to 1 (LTO-6 onward). LTO-10 has two cartridges: the standard 30 TB cartridge and a 40 TB cartridge that shipped in 2026 and works in the same drives.
Native or compressed
Which number to plan with
Plan with native capacity. Video, photos, audio, already-compressed backups and encrypted data barely compress, so they fill a cartridge at about its native size. Databases, logs and text can beat the 2.5 to 1 ratio. Turn on drive compression anyway: it costs nothing and helps when the data allows it.
Formatting also takes a little space: LTFS reserves room for its index partition, so a formatted LTO-9 cartridge offers slightly less than 18 TB to files.
How many tapes
How many cartridges you need
| Data | LTO-8 (12 TB) | LTO-9 (18 TB) | LTO-10 (30 TB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 TB | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 50 TB | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 100 TB | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| 500 TB | 42 | 28 | 17 |
| 1000 TB | 84 | 56 | 34 |
One copy, native capacity, full cartridges. Multiply by the number of copies you keep, and allow extra when many small jobs leave cartridges part full. The backup calculator does this with prices.
Roadmap
LTO-11 to LTO-14
In November 2025 the LTO Program cut its future capacity targets to favour reliability and cost per terabyte: LTO-11 is now planned at 70 TB native (175 TB compressed) and LTO-14 at 365 TB native (913 TB compressed). No LTO-11 product or release date has been announced. Past generations have arrived two to four years apart, and LTO-10 shipped in 2025.
Physical size
Cartridge dimensions
Every LTO generation uses the same cartridge shell: 102 × 105.4 × 21.5 mm (about 4.0 × 4.1 × 0.8 inches). That is why one library slot fits any generation and why the label, not the size, tells cartridges apart.
More guides
Other LTO guides
What is LTO tapeThe format in one pageLTO storageHow tape storage works and costsLTO tape drive buying guideWhich drive to buyLTO tape librariesAutoloaders and librariesLTO tape lifespanHow long tapes lastLTFS explainedTape as a file systemLTO tape data recoveryReading old tapesCleaning tapes and labelsSupplies and handlingLTO tape newsWhat changed this month
Pricebook
Get the LTO pricebook
Request current LTO media and drive pricing before you budget a migration or a refresh.
What is the capacity of LTO-8?
12 TB native, or 30 TB with 2.5 to 1 compression.
What is the capacity of LTO-10?
30 TB native (75 TB compressed) on the standard cartridge, and 40 TB native (100 TB compressed) on the cartridge that shipped in 2026.
What is the capacity of LTO-7?
LTO-7 holds 6 TB native, or 15 TB with 2.5 to 1 compression.
What is the native storage capacity of an LTO-6 tape?
2.5 TB native, or 6.25 TB with 2.5 to 1 compression. LTO-6 drives read LTO-4 to LTO-6 cartridges and write LTO-5 and LTO-6.
What is the difference between raw and actual LTO storage capacity?
Raw, or native, capacity is what the cartridge holds before compression. The space available to files is slightly less once LTFS reserves its index partition, and the compressed figure is only reached when data compresses 2.5 to 1, which video, images and encrypted files do not.
How much can an LTO storage library hold?
Multiply the cartridge capacity by the number of slots: a 16-slot autoloader with LTO-9 holds 288 TB native, and large libraries hold thousands of cartridges. See the tape library guide for common sizes.
When will LTO-11 come out?
No date has been announced. The November 2025 roadmap plans LTO-11 at 70 TB native; generations have historically arrived two to four years apart.
Are all LTO tapes the same size?
Yes. Every generation uses the same 102 × 105.4 × 21.5 mm cartridge, so they fit the same slots and cases.