How much webspace & storage space do you need

When planning a website, it is advisable to consider the numerous features of a web space early on to avoid subsequent changes. A conversion during productive operation is usually only possible under certain conditions and may require labor-intensive adjustments. One of the most important factors is the storage space and the drives used, such as SSD or HDD storage media. Through targeted use, not only costs can be saved, but websites can also be optimised for search engines (SEO) and operated in the long term without time-consuming conversions.

What exactly the storage space of a web space entails and how much storage space a website needs is explained in the following article:

What makes up the required storage space?

It depends, among other things, on the type of usage, how much storage space is needed to operate a website. The necessary web space consists of the following contents:

• The actual website, e.g. a Content Management System like Joomla, WordPress or Typo3
• Extensions/plugins for additional functions
• Templates for the design
• Media files such as videos, images or audio
• Offered downloads for visitors
• Additional data that can be uploaded by users
• Optional: Email accounts with attachments and their archiving

With a dedicated Dedicated Server or a Virtual Private Server (VPS) with SSD or HDD webspace, this list is expanded with the following elements:

• Operating system such as Linux or Microsoft Windows Server
• Necessary programs including database, web server and PHP interpreter
• Log files for the OS and accesses
• Optional: Storage space for compiling source code

Therefore, a server - whether a dedicated Root server or VPS - naturally requires more storage space than a managed webspace. The difference may vary depending on the type of website, for example, if hosting a lot of data or offering multiple large downloads. In such cases, it may be more cost-effective to opt for a Managed Server over a large webspace. The choice between HDD and SSD may not always be possible with just webspace, but it does have significant performance differences.

How much storage space does a website need?

Most CMS can be easily hosted on a small web space - they typically only require between about 50 MB and 200 MB of web space for their basic installation, depending on the system. However, additional storage space can be used for templates and plugins. High demands are primarily placed on possible downloads and media files, especially high-resolution videos, graphics, and photos. If users are given the option to upload data, for example in a forum, the potential consumption should be generously calculated. Insufficiently sized web space with little free physical storage on the HDD or SSD can potentially affect the performance of the entire website. This situation should therefore be avoided at all costs.

Does the database require additional storage space?

Content such as texts, links, CMS configurations, and user data are usually stored in the database and typically consume very little storage space. It depends on the database used whether the information is stored directly in a file or held in the working memory (RAM). For example, the SQLite database uses a file and reads and writes directly to it, while MySQL loads the dataset entirely into memory. However, MySQL also naturally consumes storage space, as every database is backed up on the SSD or HDD drive for permanent use. In the case of web space, this directory is outside of your own access and therefore does not count towards the booked storage space, unlike with a dedicated server. A database is usually only a few MB in size but should be considered separately if high user activity is expected - for example, with several thousand active users in a forum.

What factors should be considered when choosing web hosting space?

In most areas - CMS, plugins, databases - the required storage space is relatively constant. Generous reserves should be planned in case business emails with attachments need to be archived long-term or if users can also upload data to the web space. SSDs should always be preferred for the actual website and database to minimise the Server Response Time and loading time.

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