How many Photos can 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB/256GB Hold?

If you have bought a digital camera recently, then you will be looking to buy a memory card for it. Different cameras use different types of memory cards. It includes the SD card, CF card, micro SD card, XQD card, etc. But they come in the same standard capacities like 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, etc. So, how many photos can 16 GB/ 32 GB/ 64 GB/ 128 GB memory card hold?

I know, you will be really interested in knowing the number of pictures that these memory cards can hold. It will help you to decide what memory card capacity suits you. Thus, you can order the right card capacity. We will find the answer to this question in this article.

I am not considering 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB memory cards since they are outdated capacities for any use. Also, memory cards with these capacities will cost you more.

Factors Deciding the Number of Photos in a Memory Card

The number of pictures that can be stored in a memory card is decided by various factors. I will explain all these factors.

1. Storage Image Format 🌄

The most important factor is the image file format that you are going to use inside the camera. In the case of a simple point-and-shoot digital camera, you will only have the “JPEG” option.

If you use a DSLR/ Mirrorless/ Medium format camera, then you will have the option to record images in RAW format. RAW format is used by professional photographers and photography hobbyists. It gives you the ability to tweak camera parameters like white balance, and exposure in a better way during the edits. Each manufacturer will have its own file naming convention for the RAW files.

In the case of interchangeable lens cameras, you will have multiple options for saving the pictures. You can either record the photos in JPEG alone, RAW alone, or JPEG+RAW. So, the number of images that can be stored depends on this selection.

2. Camera Megapixels 📷

Camera megapixels are the other factor. A higher megapixel camera will generate image files of larger size due to high resolution. So, a single image file will occupy more space. Hence, you can store only a few images. So, you need to ensure to invest in a memory card of higher capacity.

For example, a 12-megapixel camera can store only half the number of pictures as a 6-megapixel camera with the same memory card capacity.

3. Number of Bits 🏞

JPEG files will have 8 bits of information.

The RAW file will have 12 to 16 bits. So, RAW files will have more information and hence it will occupy more space than their JPEG counterparts.

Storage Capacity Vs Number of Photos 😎 

I will make use of the following facts to calculate the number of pictures that can be stored on the memory card with different capacities. 

These calculations for the number of photos against the memory card capacity are applicable to all types of memory cards. You can use it for SD cards, XQD cards, CF cards, C Fast cards, micro SD cards, etc.

A 1 GB storage media will have 1024 MB of memory. So, a 16 GB memory card will have 16 x 1024 MB = 16384 MB theoretically. If you check the actual storage capacity of the memory card in your camera or computer, you will see that it will be less than 16 GB. The actual capacity of the memory card will also differ between the cards.

If you use your camera to capture different pictures in different conditions with the same file format, you can see that the image file size will be different for all these images. But, still, we can do an approximate correlation of the megapixels with the image size.

The average raw file size of the image will be approximately twice the megapixels of the camera.

For example, if you use a 24-megapixel camera and capture the photos in RAW format, then the image file size would be around 48 MB (24 x 2).

16 GB, 32 GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256 GB are commonly available memory card capacities.

You can also get higher storage capacities like 512 GB and 1TB. But, they are very expensive.

32 GB is the most popular capacity preferred by most people. So, you can easily get a 32 GB card for a lower price from sites like Amazon.

How many Pictures can 16 GB hold? 😎

The number of pictures that a 16 GB memory card of any type can store is given in the below table.

CAMERA MEGAPIXELS (MP)	AVERAGE RAW FILE SIZE (MB)	AVERAGE JPEG FILE SIZE (MB)	NUMBER OF JPEG PHOTOS IN 16GB CARD	NUMBER OF RAW PHOTOS IN 16GB CARD	NUMBER OF JPEG+RAW PHOTOS IN 16GB CARD
3	6	0.9	17778	2667	2319
5	10	1.5	10667	1600	1391
6	12	1.8	8889	1333	1159
7	14	2.1	7619	1143	994
8	16	2.4	6667	1000	870
10	20	3	5333	800	696
12	24	3.6	4444	667	580
14	28	4.2	3810	571	497
15	30	4.5	3556	533	464
16	32	4.8	3333	500	435
18	36	5.4	2963	444	386
20	40	6	2667	400	348
21	42	6.3	2540	381	331
24	48	7.2	2222	333	290
26	52	7.8	2051	308	268
28	56	8.4	1905	286	248
30	60	9	1778	267	232
31	62	9.3	1720	258	224
32	64	9.6	1667	250	217
33	66	9.9	1616	242	211
34	68	10.2	1569	235	205
35	70	10.5	1524	229	199
36	72	10.8	1481	222	193
40	80	12	1333	200	174
42	84	12.6	1270	190	166
44	88	13.2	1212	182	158
45	90	13.5	1185	178	155
48	96	14.4	1111	167	145
50	100	15	1067	160	139
60	120	18	889	133	116

If you are planning to use a 16 GB memory card, then the above table will give you an idea about the number of pictures it can store.

How many Pictures can 32 GB hold? 😎

32 GB is currently the most popular memory card size used by most people.

The table showing the number of photos that a 32 GB memory card can store is given below.

CAMERA MEGAPIXELS (MP)	AVERAGE RAW FILE SIZE (MB)	AVERAGE JPEG FILE SIZE (MB)	NUMBER OF JPEG PHOTOS IN 32GB CARD	NUMBER OF RAW PHOTOS IN 32GB CARD	NUMBER OF JPEG+RAW PHOTOS IN 32GB CARD
3	6	0.9	35556	5333	4638
5	10	1.5	21333	3200	2783
6	12	1.8	17778	2667	2319
7	14	2.1	15238	2286	1988
8	16	2.4	13333	2000	1739
10	20	3	10667	1600	1391
12	24	3.6	8889	1333	1159
14	28	4.2	7619	1143	994
15	30	4.5	7111	1067	928
16	32	4.8	6667	1000	870
18	36	5.4	5926	889	773
20	40	6	5333	800	696
21	42	6.3	5079	762	663
24	48	7.2	4444	667	580
26	52	7.8	4103	615	535
28	56	8.4	3810	571	497
30	60	9	3556	533	464
31	62	9.3	3441	516	449
32	64	9.6	3333	500	435
33	66	9.9	3232	485	422
34	68	10.2	3137	471	409
35	70	10.5	3048	457	398
36	72	10.8	2963	444	386
40	80	12	2667	400	348
42	84	12.6	2540	381	331
44	88	13.2	2424	364	316
45	90	13.5	2370	356	309
48	96	14.4	2222	333	290
50	100	15	2133	320	278
60	120	18	1778	267	232

How many Pictures can 64 GB hold? 😎

When it comes to serious professional photographers, 64 GB is a commonly chosen memory card size.

CAMERA MEGAPIXELS (MP)	AVERAGE RAW FILE SIZE (MB)	AVERAGE JPEG FILE SIZE (MB)	NUMBER OF JPEG PHOTOS IN 64GB CARD	NUMBER OF RAW PHOTOS IN 64GB CARD	NUMBER OF JPEG+RAW PHOTOS IN 64GB CARD
3	6	0.9	71111	10667	9275
5	10	1.5	42667	6400	5565
6	12	1.8	35556	5333	4638
7	14	2.1	30476	4571	3975
8	16	2.4	26667	4000	3478
10	20	3	21333	3200	2783
12	24	3.6	17778	2667	2319
14	28	4.2	15238	2286	1988
15	30	4.5	14222	2133	1855
16	32	4.8	13333	2000	1739
18	36	5.4	11852	1778	1546
20	40	6	10667	1600	1391
21	42	6.3	10159	1524	1325
24	48	7.2	8889	1333	1159
26	52	7.8	8205	1231	1070
28	56	8.4	7619	1143	994
30	60	9	7111	1067	928
31	62	9.3	6882	1032	898
32	64	9.6	6667	1000	870
33	66	9.9	6465	970	843
34	68	10.2	6275	941	818
35	70	10.5	6095	914	795
36	72	10.8	5926	889	773
40	80	12	5333	800	696
42	84	12.6	5079	762	663
44	88	13.2	4848	727	632
45	90	13.5	4741	711	618
48	96	14.4	4444	667	580
50	100	15	4267	640	557
60	120	18	3556	533	464

So, if you are planning to purchase one, you can crosscheck with the table above against your camera megapixels and file recording format to know the number of photos the 64 GB memory card can hold.

How many Pictures can 128 GB hold? 😎

People who own a higher-megapixel camera, like the 50 or 60-megapixel ones need to go for a memory card with higher capacity. They can choose the 128 GB ones.

CAMERA MEGAPIXELS (MP)	AVERAGE RAW FILE SIZE (MB)	AVERAGE JPEG FILE SIZE (MB)	NUMBER OF JPEG PHOTOS IN 128GB CARD	NUMBER OF RAW PHOTOS IN 128GB CARD	NUMBER OF JPEG+RAW PHOTOS IN 128GB CARD
3	6	0.9	142222	21333	18551
5	10	1.5	85333	12800	11130
6	12	1.8	71111	10667	9275
7	14	2.1	60952	9143	7950
8	16	2.4	53333	8000	6957
10	20	3	42667	6400	5565
12	24	3.6	35556	5333	4638
14	28	4.2	30476	4571	3975
15	30	4.5	28444	4267	3710
16	32	4.8	26667	4000	3478
18	36	5.4	23704	3556	3092
20	40	6	21333	3200	2783
21	42	6.3	20317	3048	2650
24	48	7.2	17778	2667	2319
26	52	7.8	16410	2462	2140
28	56	8.4	15238	2286	1988
30	60	9	14222	2133	1855
31	62	9.3	13763	2065	1795
32	64	9.6	13333	2000	1739
33	66	9.9	12929	1939	1686
34	68	10.2	12549	1882	1637
35	70	10.5	12190	1829	1590
36	72	10.8	11852	1778	1546
40	80	12	10667	1600	1391
42	84	12.6	10159	1524	1325
44	88	13.2	9697	1455	1265
45	90	13.5	9481	1422	1237
48	96	14.4	8889	1333	1159
50	100	15	8533	1280	1113
60	120	18	7111	1067	928

The table above shows the number of images that a 128 GB memory card can hold, irrespective of the memory card type.

How many Pictures can 256 GB hold? 😎

A 256 GB memory card can be useful when you are out for long expeditions like travel or wildlife photography. It allows you to store more images.

CAMERA MEGAPIXELS (MP)	AVERAGE RAW FILE SIZE (MB)	AVERAGE JPEG FILE SIZE (MB)	NUMBER OF JPEG PHOTOS IN 256GB CARD	NUMBER OF RAW PHOTOS IN 256GB CARD	NUMBER OF JPEG+RAW PHOTOS IN 256GB CARD
3	6	0.9	284444	42667	37101
5	10	1.5	170667	25600	22261
6	12	1.8	142222	21333	18551
7	14	2.1	121905	18286	15901
8	16	2.4	106667	16000	13913
10	20	3	85333	12800	11130
12	24	3.6	71111	10667	9275
14	28	4.2	60952	9143	7950
15	30	4.5	56889	8533	7420
16	32	4.8	53333	8000	6957
18	36	5.4	47407	7111	6184
20	40	6	42667	6400	5565
21	42	6.3	40635	6095	5300
24	48	7.2	35556	5333	4638
26	52	7.8	32821	4923	4281
28	56	8.4	30476	4571	3975
30	60	9	28444	4267	3710
31	62	9.3	27527	4129	3590
32	64	9.6	26667	4000	3478
33	66	9.9	25859	3879	3373
34	68	10.2	25098	3765	3274
35	70	10.5	24381	3657	3180
36	72	10.8	23704	3556	3092
40	80	12	21333	3200	2783
42	84	12.6	20317	3048	2650
44	88	13.2	19394	2909	2530
45	90	13.5	18963	2844	2473
48	96	14.4	17778	2667	2319
50	100	15	17067	2560	2226
60	120	18	14222	2133	1855

The number of images a 256 GB memory card can hold is given in the table above.

Final Words 😇 

So, now you know, how many pictures can a 16GB/32GBGB/64GB/128GB/256 GB memory card can hold. But, there is one more thing that you need to consider while selecting a memory card. It is the card write speed. 

The write speed of the memory card must be greater than or equal to that of the camera write speed. Otherwise, you may end up seeing a slow recording of images, noticeable in burst mode.

Consider reading this article that will help you select the right memory card for your camera.