How many photos can 8GB hold?
Today this is mostly a memory card size, and a small one once a camera shoots RAW.
8 GB holds about 2,666 photos from a recent iPhone, at 3 MB each. On a camera card the count drops to about 919 JPEGs or 296 RAW files, because camera files are bigger. Busy scenes and higher resolutions shrink it further, and a lower resolution setting raises it.
An 8 GB card is a small SDHC card
The SD Association sorts cards by capacity, and the SDHC class covers more than 2 GB up to 32 GB. An 8 GB card sits near the bottom of that range. Older point-and-shoot cameras, trail cameras, dash cams and kids' cameras still use them. It is fine for a day out in JPEG, but a trip in RAW can fill it in one afternoon. Once the shots are safe on a computer, keep a second copy for $1/mo: 100 GB, about twelve full cards' worth.
| Photo type | Photos that fit |
|---|---|
| iPhone photo (24 MP HEIF, the default) | 2,666 |
| iPhone 48 MP (HEIF Max) | 1,600 |
| Camera JPEG (24 MP) | 919 |
| Camera RAW (24 MP) | 296 |
| iPhone ProRAW (48 MP) | 106 |
How to use the calculator
The tool opens at 8 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 pictures will an 8GB SD card hold?
About 919 JPEGs from a 24 MP camera such as the Canon EOS R50. Set to RAW, the same card takes about 296. Older cameras with fewer megapixels write smaller files and fit more.
How many photos fit on an 8GB card in RAW plus JPEG?
Roughly 224, because every press of the shutter saves a 27 MB RAW file and a 8.7 MB JPEG. Turn off the JPEG copy if you edit everything later anyway.
Is an 8GB card big enough for a vacation?
In JPEG it covers a short trip at a few hundred shots a day. Video changes that fast, since one minute of 4K footage is about 170 MB. Bring a second card if you plan to film.
Why does my 8GB card show less free space than the label?
The label counts in decimal units, 1 GB = 1 billion bytes, while Windows reports binary units and shows a smaller number. The file system also keeps a sliver for itself. Nothing is missing.
How many photos can an 8GB card hold from a phone?
If you copy phone pictures onto it, about 2,666 fit at 3 MB each. Live Photos store a short clip with every shot, so they take noticeably more room. Turn them off before a big transfer if space is tight.