Media
LTO cartridge prices, September 2026
| Generation | Native | Cartridge price | Per native TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTO-6 | 2.5 TB | $38.00-$56.45 | $15.20-$22.58/TB |
| LTO-7 | 6 TB | $59.99-$79.99 | $10.00-$13.33/TB |
| LTO-8 | 12 TB | $69.95-$80.00 | $5.83-$6.67/TB |
| LTO-9 | 18 TB | $92.45-$111.55 | $5.14-$6.20/TB |
| LTO-10 | 30 TB | $256.00-$299.99 | $8.53-$10.00/TB |
Hardware
LTO drive prices, September 2026
Seller listings for new standalone SAS drives.
| Generation | Internal or module | External or tabletop |
|---|---|---|
| LTO-6 | Not listed | $4,937 |
| LTO-7 | $3,419-$4,253 | $3,699-$4,999 |
| LTO-8 | $4,850-$8,099 | $5,309-$8,441 |
| LTO-9 | $7,699-$13,500 | $8,999-$13,385 |
| LTO-10 | Not listed | $22,165-$24,950 |
Notes
Notes on this snapshot
- Single new cartridges and new standalone drives from 165 listings at 7 US sellers (BackupWorks, DatacenterDisk, LTO World, MagStor, StoragePartsDirect, Tape4Backup, TapeandMedia), checked on 17 September 2026.
- The 40 TB LTO-10 cartridge was listed at $491.00-$555.00 ($12.28-$13.88 per TB); the LTO-10 row above is the 30 TB cartridge.
- Tape4Backup shows a site-wide banner: 'From September 1st, 2026, all LTO Tape prices have increased.' Despite that, its LTO-9 singles ($93.50-$99.50) and LTO-10 30TB singles ($256-$286.75) sit in line with other sellers.
- Trend vs early 2026: LTO-9 cartridges flat (Symply quoted about $94 in Feb 2026; now $92-$112). LTO-10 30TB roughly flat to slightly down (Symply ~$280 in Feb 2026; now $256-$300). LTO-10 40TB lower than expected launch price (Symply expected ~$570 or $14.25/TB; now $491-$555 or $12.28-$13.88/TB). Symply blamed the 40TB premium on launch pricing, tight Aramid base film supply and hyperscaler deals.
- DatacenterDisk (published 2026-08-17, data updated 2026-09-17): LTO tape 'largely stable at $4-$6/TB' while HDD prices rose sharply in 2026; tape's $/TB edge over HDD widened from about 2x to 3.5x. The stated reason is an independent supply chain (Fujifilm and Sony in Japan) that avoids the NAND shortage and hyperscale HDD demand.
- LTO Program (Sept 2026): 160.3 EB of LTO capacity shipped in 2025 (down 9% from the 176.5 EB record in 2024); Q1 2026 shipped capacity up 57% YoY, driven by LTO-9 adoption and the LTO-10 ramp; 2026 expected to set a new record.
- The Register (2026-09-02): only Sony and Fujifilm make LTO cartridges. Analyst Tom Coughlin tied the 2025 dip to 'the evolving international trade environment' making buyers more cautious (tariff-related caution, but no price figure given).
- Blocks & Files (2026-09-04): suggests the 2025 dip may reflect buyers waiting for LTO-10; projects 2026 could reach about 251.67 EB if Q1 pace holds.
- Fujifilm LTO Ultrium 10 40TB cartridge (16978170) uses an aramid base film and began shipping January 2026; it works in existing LTO-10 drives. IBM 40TB cartridges (models 564/664) available 2026-03-06.
- Half-height LTO-10 drives: Symply support article said HH drives expected Q2 2026 (FH first because of the new head guide assembly). No HH LTO-10 drive was listed at any seller checked on 2026-09-17.
More history