Jump to the capacity you want — each section ranks the available WD Elements, WD My Book and Seagate Expansion drives by live $/TB. Lower (greener) is the better deal.
Which capacity should you buy?
The short version: the 14–18 TB band usually wins on dollars
per terabyte, smaller drives risk SMR, and the largest drives cost a premium until
they go on sale. Use the live tables below to compare what each capacity actually
costs today, then read the $/TB buying
guide for what counts as a good price.
Best 24TB shuckable drive
The largest shuckable tier. Premium per-terabyte pricing — for maximum density per drive bay when bays, not budget, are the constraint.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
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The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 22TB shuckable drive
Near the top of the range. The best $/TB here only shows up on strong sales, but it packs serious capacity into one bay.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 20TB shuckable drive
High capacity with a per-terabyte premium unless deeply discounted. A good pick when you want fewer, bigger drives.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 18TB shuckable drive
An excellent balance of capacity and $/TB when discounted — one of the most popular sizes for NAS and Plex upgrades.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 16TB shuckable drive
The current mainstream pick: wide availability across WD Elements, WD My Book and Seagate Expansion, so deals appear often.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 14TB shuckable drive
A long-running shucking sweet spot — historically among the best $/TB whenever a sale lands.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Best 12TB shuckable drive
Entry desktop capacity. Usually a weaker $/TB than larger drives, so only worth it on a deep discount.
Prices checked Nov 3, 6:08 PM CT. Anything older than 24 hours is hidden, and the retailer's page always has the live price.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The retailer buttons are paid affiliate links, so we may earn a commission on a
qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are accurate
only as of the date/time shown and are subject to change; the price and
availability on the retailer's own site at the time of purchase is the one that applies.
Historically the 14–18 TB band offers the best dollars per terabyte on sale, with the sweet spot drifting upward as larger drives mature. Smaller drives lose to SMR and thin margins; the very largest carry a per-TB premium. Always compare the live $/TB before buying.
What is the cheapest external hard drive per TB right now?
It changes daily. The tables on this page are live and ranked by $/TB, so the cheapest current option is whichever sits highest (greenest) in each capacity section.
Are bigger drives always cheaper per TB?
Not always. Per-TB cost tends to be lowest in the mid-range (14–18 TB) and rises again at the very largest capacities, which command a premium until they go on sale.