Raid10 Calculator

In the world of data storage and server management, redundancy and speed are vital. RAID 10, also known as RAID 1+0, is a popular storage configuration that offers the best of both worlds—data protection and high performance. Whether you’re building a home server, managing enterprise infrastructure, or setting up a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system, understanding how much usable storage you get from your hard drives is essential.

Our RAID 10 Calculator is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps you determine the usable capacity and redundancy capabilities of a RAID 10 configuration. It ensures you’re making the right investment when choosing the number of drives and their capacity.

What is RAID 10?

RAID 10 combines the mirroring of RAID 1 with the striping of RAID 0. In simple terms, data is first mirrored for redundancy, then striped across multiple disks for performance. This setup requires a minimum of four disks and always uses an even number of drives.

Key benefits of RAID 10 include:

  • High fault tolerance
  • Excellent read/write performance
  • Fast recovery in case of disk failure

How to Use the RAID 10 Calculator

Using our RAID 10 Calculator is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Enter Total Number of Disks

Input the total number of hard drives or SSDs you plan to use.

  • Minimum: 4
  • Must be an even number (e.g., 4, 6, 8, 10…)

Step 2: Enter Disk Size

Provide the capacity of each individual disk in gigabytes (GB).

  • Example: Enter 1000 for a 1TB disk.

Step 3: Click Calculate

Press the “Calculate” button. The tool will instantly display:

  • Usable Storage: The total storage available after mirroring.
  • Redundancy Info: Information on fault tolerance and failure handling.

Step 4: Click Reset (if needed)

To start over, simply click the “Reset” button. The form will reload, and all fields will be cleared.

Example Calculation

Let’s say you’re planning to build a RAID 10 array using:

  • 6 disks
  • Each disk has a capacity of 2000 GB (2 TB)

Enter the values in the calculator:

  • Total Disks: 6
  • Disk Size: 2000

After clicking Calculate, you’ll see:

  • Usable Storage: 6000 GB
  • Redundancy: RAID10 can tolerate 1 disk failure per mirror pair

Even though you have 12 TB of raw disk space, only 6 TB is usable because RAID 10 mirrors half of the drives for redundancy.

Why Use RAID 10?

RAID 10 is ideal for:

  • Databases that require fast write speeds and reliability
  • Virtualization platforms that can’t afford downtime
  • Video editing workstations needing high throughput and safety
  • Web servers requiring consistent uptime and performance

It offers a perfect balance of speed, redundancy, and simplicity—but the trade-off is that only 50% of your total storage is usable.

Additional Tips and Use Cases

  • RAID 10 is best when performance and redundancy are equally important.
  • Avoid using an odd number of drives, as the configuration won’t work.
  • Use enterprise-grade HDDs or SSDs to maximize lifespan and reliability.
  • For backup purposes, never rely on RAID alone—always keep external backups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the minimum number of disks required for RAID 10?
A minimum of 4 disks is required.

2. Can I use an odd number of disks in RAID 10?
No. RAID 10 requires an even number of drives.

3. How much usable storage do I get in RAID 10?
You get 50% of your total raw disk capacity.

4. Does RAID 10 protect against disk failure?
Yes. It can tolerate 1 disk failure per mirrored pair.

5. Is RAID 10 faster than RAID 5?
Yes, RAID 10 typically offers better performance, especially for write-intensive tasks.

6. Can I expand a RAID 10 array later?
Only if your RAID controller or software supports it. Expansion can be complex.

7. What happens if two disks fail in RAID 10?
If both failed disks are from the same mirror pair, data is lost.

8. What types of disks are best for RAID 10?
Use matched, enterprise-grade disks for best performance and reliability.

9. Can I use SSDs in RAID 10?
Yes. RAID 10 works with both SSDs and HDDs.

10. Does RAID 10 replace backups?
No. RAID is for availability, not backup. Always back up critical data separately.

11. How is RAID 10 different from RAID 1?
RAID 10 combines RAID 1 (mirroring) with RAID 0 (striping) for better performance.

12. Can I use different size drives in RAID 10?
Technically yes, but the array will treat all drives as the size of the smallest disk.

13. Is software RAID 10 reliable?
Modern software RAID (like mdadm in Linux) can be reliable if configured properly.

14. How do I monitor a RAID 10 array?
Use RAID monitoring tools provided by your controller or OS (e.g., SMART, mdadm).

15. Is RAID 10 good for gaming?
It’s overkill for gaming. SSDs provide enough speed without needing RAID.

16. How do I rebuild a failed disk in RAID 10?
Replace the failed disk and use your RAID tool/software to rebuild the mirror.

17. Does RAID 10 have overhead like parity RAID?
No. RAID 10 has no parity, so performance isn’t slowed by parity calculations.

18. What’s better: RAID 5 or RAID 10?
RAID 10 is better for performance and fault tolerance; RAID 5 is more space-efficient.

19. How many disks can fail in RAID 10?
It depends. You can lose multiple disks if they are from different mirror pairs.

20. What file system should I use with RAID 10?
Choose based on your OS. Popular options include ext4, XFS, or NTFS.

Final Thoughts

RAID 10 is a rock-solid choice for anyone needing speed and reliability. Whether you’re an IT manager, content creator, or tech enthusiast, knowing how much usable space and redundancy you get before setting up your array saves you from surprises down the line.

Use our RAID 10 Calculator to plan better, protect your data, and build smarter.