# Immich Thumbnail Storage Guide: SSD Size for Generated Media

Canonical: https://cloudzat.com/immich-thumbnail-storage/

Purpose: Immich storage buying guide.

Decision: Plan generated-media storage as a percentage of your projected original library, then adjust the percentage after measuring your own server. A 1TB SSD can be a practical working tier for many households, while larger video-heavy collections or multi-year growth plans may justify 2TB or more. Keep original photos and videos protected independently because generated files are not a replacement for source media.

- Typical home library: 1TB SSD is a practical tier — A useful starting point when thumbnails and transcodes share one application SSD.
- Video-heavy library: Consider 2TB or more — Transcoded video can grow the generated-media layer much faster than photo thumbnails.
- Free-space reserve: Leave working headroom — Avoid sizing the drive to run nearly full during regeneration, imports or updates.
- Original media: Protect it separately — Generated files can be recreated; original photos and videos still need protected primary and backup storage.

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