What temperature should LTO tapes be stored at?
16 to 25 °C (61 to 77 °F) for long-term storage, according to IBM and Fujifilm. For a shorter time, IBM allows 16 to 32 °C, and the tape itself must never go above 52 °C.
Conditions
Temperature and humidity for LTO tapes
| Use | Temperature | Relative humidity | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term (archival) storage | 16 to 25 °C (61 to 77 °F) | 20 to 50% | IBM recommended storage; Fujifilm long term |
| Shorter-term storage | 16 to 32 °C (61 to 90 °F) | 20 to 80% | IBM allowable storage; Fujifilm allows up to 35 °C short term |
| In a drive (recommended) | 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F) | 20 to 50% | Fujifilm LTO-9 recommended operating range |
| In a drive (allowed) | 10 to 45 °C (50 to 113 °F) | 10 to 80% | IBM operating range |
| Shipping | −23 to 49 °C (−9 to 120 °F) | 5 to 80% | IBM; the tape itself must not go above 52 °C (Fujifilm) |
Figures from the IBM LTO Ultrium data cartridge data sheet (LTO-9 and LTO-10) and the Fujifilm LTO-9 data sheet. The Overland-Tandberg tape handling guide gives the same archive range. All ranges assume no condensation; IBM sets a maximum wet bulb temperature of 26 °C.
- Keep it stable. Slow, small changes do no harm; daily swings and condensation do. A closed cupboard in an air-conditioned office is better than a garage or an outside wall.
- Acclimatise before use. IBM, Dell and Overland-Tandberg all ask for 24 hours in the room with the drive before use, or longer if needed to avoid condensation (IBM, Dell).
- Away from magnets, heat and sun. IBM says not to expose cartridges to stray magnetic fields above 100 oersteds, and Overland-Tandberg advises keeping them 8 to 12 cm (3 to 5 inches) from high-current cables, power supplies and motors. Keep them out of direct sunlight and off radiators.
These conditions are what the 30-year archival rating assumes. More on how long tapes last is in LTO tape lifespan.
Cases, cabinets and racks
Where to put the cartridges
| Option | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Jewel case (the case the cartridge ships in) | Every cartridge on a shelf | Store it standing on edge, like a book, not lying flat in a pile |
| Padded transport case (turtle case) for 5, 10 or 20 cartridges | Carrying tapes offsite and back | Foam slots that hold each cartridge, a latch that locks, a place for a seal or tag |
| Storage box or drawer insert | Small archives in an office cupboard | Slots that keep cartridges upright and separated; dust lid |
| Media cabinet | Tens to hundreds of cartridges in one room | Drawers sized for LTO, a lock, and for important archives a fire rating made for magnetic media, which must keep the inside cooler than a paper safe |
| Rack shelf or library | Cartridges next to the drives in a server room | Shelves sized for LTO cartridges in a 19 inch rack; for many cartridges a tape library stores and loads them for you |
A paper fire safe is not enough for tape: it is designed to keep paper below the point where it burns, which is far hotter than tape tolerates. Look for a cabinet or safe rated for magnetic media (in the US, UL 72 Class 150 is the rating for magnetic tape and film, against Class 350 for paper), or rely on a second copy at another site. Barcode labels and cleaning cartridges are covered in cleaning tapes, labels and cases.
Offsite
Offsite storage and rotation
One copy of the data should always be somewhere a fire, flood or break-in at the main site cannot reach. With tape that means taking cartridges out of the building on a schedule:
- Daily, weekly, monthly sets. A common scheme (often called grandfather, father, son) keeps daily tapes for a week or two, weekly tapes for a month or two and monthly tapes for a year or more, with the newest weekly or monthly set offsite.
- Archive copies. For an archive that is written once, make two copies and keep one at another site from the start.
- A log. Record which cartridge is where, who moved it and when. Backup software and libraries can track this as "vaulting".
- Encrypt what travels. A cartridge in a car or a courier van can be lost; drive encryption (AES-256, LTO-4 and later) means a lost tape exposes nothing.
If you use a vault company, ask where and how they store tapes (temperature and humidity control), how quickly they can return a cartridge, how they record chain of custody, and how they transport cartridges between sites. Why offsite tapes still matter is argued in offsite tape backups still beat most "good enough" plans.
Handling
Handling checklist
- Hold cartridges by the shell; never touch the tape or pull the leader pin.
- Do not drop them. A dropped cartridge should be tested, or retired, before it holds the only copy of anything.
- Keep them in their cases whenever they are out of a drive or library.
- Label with proper barcode labels, not handwritten stickers that can peel off inside a drive.
- Store them upright, never stacked flat in piles, and never leave them in a car.
- Read a sample of cartridges back every year or two to check the archive is still readable.
More guides
Other LTO guides
What is LTO tapeThe format in one pageLTO storageHow tape storage works and costsLTO capacity chartLTO-1 to LTO-14LTO 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
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Request current LTO media and drive pricing before you budget a migration or a refresh.
What humidity is best for storing LTO tapes?
20 to 50% relative humidity for long-term storage, without condensation. Short-term storage can go up to 80%, but stable and dry is what the 30-year rating assumes.
Should LTO tapes be stored flat or upright?
Upright. Overland-Tandberg says media should be stored vertically, and Dell says to keep tapes in their cases, upright, and never stacked.
How long should a tape acclimatise before use?
24 hours in the room with the drive, or longer if it came from somewhere much colder or more humid, so no condensation forms in the drive.
Can I keep LTO tapes in a normal fire safe?
A safe rated only for paper is not enough, because it lets the inside get far hotter than tape tolerates. Use a safe or cabinet rated for magnetic media (UL 72 Class 150 in the US), or keep a second copy offsite.
How should tapes be stored offsite?
In a climate-controlled place with the same conditions as onsite, carried in padded cases, encrypted, and logged so you always know which cartridge is where.