Partition Size Calculator
Enter the disk size, your RAM, the operating systems you will install and whether you hibernate. The calculator plans the EFI, Windows and Linux system partitions, swap and the space left for your files.
- Partition sizes
- Swap size
- Dual boot plan
Sizes are rounded and allow for the disk showing in binary units.
A good layout gives each system room to grow and keeps your files separate. On a 1 TB disk with 16 GB of RAM, a dual boot layout might give 512 MB for EFI, about 250 GB for Windows, 100 GB for Linux, 8 GB swap and the rest, about 570 GB, for your files.
Partition guide
Common sizes. Search for a partition.
| Partition | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| EFI system | 100 MB | 512 MB |
| Windows MSR | 16 MB | 16 MB |
| Windows recovery | 600 MB | 1 GB |
| Windows system | 64 GB | 150 to 250 GB |
| Linux root | 20 GB | 50 to 100 GB |
| Swap | 1 GB | RAM size if hibernating |
Minimums and comfortable sizes.
Disk size and layout
Dual boot, 16 GB RAM. Slide the disk size.
The bar shows each partition's share of the disk.
How to plan partitions
Disk to layout. Step through it.
Disk size
As shown.
Install Windows first when dual booting. Linux installers then detect it and add a boot menu.
One partition, separate data or dual boot
Layouts. Compare them.
Simple.
Safer.
Two systems.
On two disks, putting each system on its own disk is simplest of all.
Before partitioning
Disk checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
Resizing partitions can lose data. Always back up first.
What you get
Partition plan. Each tile explains one result.
Space left.
Boot.
Sizes.
Size.
Shown size.
Swap equal to RAM is only needed if you hibernate. Otherwise a few GB is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
How big should the EFI partition be?
Five hundred and twelve megabytes is a safe size, though one hundred works for Windows alone.
How much space does Windows need?
At least sixty-four gigabytes, and one hundred and fifty or more is comfortable.
How big should Linux root be?
Fifty to one hundred gigabytes for most desktops.
How much swap do I need?
Equal to your RAM if you hibernate, otherwise a few gigabytes.
Should I keep my files on a separate partition?
It makes reinstalling the system easier, as your files stay put.
Which system should I install first for dual boot?
Windows, then Linux.
Why does my disk show less space than advertised?
Computers count in binary units, so a one terabyte disk shows about nine hundred and thirty-one gigabytes.
A layout that lasts
Plan your partitions with room for each system and your files, back up first, and the disk stays tidy for years.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.