How many photos can 256GB hold?
The entry size for a new iPhone today, and a big card for a camera.
256 GB fits about 85,333 photos from a recent iPhone, each about 3 MB. A camera fills it with about 29,425 JPEGs or 9,481 RAW files. Video, ProRAW and the system all cut into that number. On a new phone, iOS and Apple's apps start by taking 12 GB to 24 GB.
256 GB is now where iPhones start
The iPhone 17e comes in 256 GB or 512 GB, so the smaller choice is this size. Few people fill it with photos alone. They fill it with video: an hour of 4K at 170 MB a minute takes about 10 GB. As the library grows, one lost or broken phone puts more at risk. Keep it all in 500 GB for $3/mo, almost twice the size of the phone.
| Photo type | Photos that fit |
|---|---|
| iPhone photo (24 MP HEIF, the default) | 85,333 |
| iPhone 48 MP (HEIF Max) | 51,200 |
| Camera JPEG (24 MP) | 29,425 |
| Camera RAW (24 MP) | 9,481 |
| iPhone ProRAW (48 MP) | 3,413 |
How to use the calculator
The tool opens at 256 GB with a recent iPhone's default photo. Pick another photo type to see its count, or type a different size to compare.
How the count is worked out
Each count is the storage divided by the size of one photo, rounded down. Storage is sold in decimal units: 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. Photo sizes are typical, not fixed, because a detailed scene makes a bigger file than a plain one.
When it fills up
Copy the photos you want to keep somewhere with more room before you delete anything. Every StorageBites size and price is on the pricing page, and each file is encrypted in your browser before upload.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos can 256GB hold on an iPhone?
About 85,333 at the default setting, minus the 12 GB to 24 GB that iOS and Apple's apps take. With HEIF Max at 5 MB a photo, the count is about 51,200.
How many photos can a 256GB SD card hold?
About 29,425 JPEGs or 9,481 RAW files from a Canon EOS R50. A card that size can cover weeks of travel without a laptop. It also means one lost card loses weeks, so copy it off when you can.
How long does 256GB last?
With photos only, many years. With regular 4K video, a few years is more typical, and sooner if you film in high frame rates. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see which one is filling yours.
How many pictures can 256GB hold with Live Photos on?
Fewer than the plain count, because each Live Photo saves a short video clip next to the still. If you rarely play them back, turning the feature off in the Camera settings stretches the space. Your old Live Photos keep their clips either way.
Is 256GB enough for a photographer?
As a working card, yes: about 9,481 RAW frames is a long shoot. As the only home for a growing RAW archive, no. Most photographers keep the card for shooting and move finished sets to a drive or the cloud.