NAS hard drives are internal drives made for network attached storage that runs around the clock, in home media servers, small offices and server rooms. Our range covers capacities from 2 TB to 24 TB, mainly from Seagate, Toshiba and Synology, with a few drives from UGREEN, Ubiquiti and QNAP.
How to choose a NAS hard drive
Capacity. Plan around usable space, not the raw total. In a RAID setup one or two drives' worth of capacity goes to redundancy, so four 8 TB drives in RAID 5 give roughly 24 TB usable. Our range runs from 2 TB to 24 TB, and 8 TB and 12 TB models are well represented.
Number of bays. Drives built for NAS use are tuned for enclosures where several disks spin side by side and vibrate. A two-bay home NAS is fine with a standard NAS drive, while an enclosure with eight or more bays calls for drives rated for heavier workloads and multi-bay vibration.
Recording technology. Most NAS drives use conventional magnetic recording (CMR), which handles constant small writes and RAID rebuilds well. Shingled recording (SMR) can slow down sharply during rebuilds, so check the datasheet before buying for a RAID array.
Reliability and operating limits. Mean time between failures is a statistical estimate, not a lifespan, but it helps when comparing models. Values in our range run from 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 hours. Operating temperature ratings such as 0 to 65 °C and shock ratings of 70 G or 80 G while running matter if the NAS sits in a cupboard or a warm office.
Power use. A NAS drive is on all day, so idle consumption adds up. Idle figures in our range run from under 3 W to almost 8 W, and standby figures start at 0.25 W. Lower numbers mean less heat and a quieter enclosure.
NAS hard drive brands we carry
- Seagate: known for its IronWolf family of drives designed for NAS enclosures, and the brand with the most models in this category.
- Toshiba: a long-established hard drive maker whose N300 series targets always-on NAS and small business storage.
- Synology: better known for its DiskStation NAS systems and DSM software, and it also sells drives intended for use in its own enclosures.
Also in our range: UGREEN, Ubiquiti and QNAP.
NAS hard drives: frequently asked questions
Can I use a normal desktop hard drive in a NAS?
Yes, it will usually work, but it is not the best fit. Desktop drives are designed for a few hours of use a day and are less tolerant of vibration in multi-bay enclosures. NAS drives are built for continuous operation and RAID, and they often carry higher reliability ratings.
How much NAS storage do I need?
Add up your current data, then allow for at least double that over the next few years. Photos, video and backups from several devices grow quickly. Remember that RAID reduces usable space, so buy larger drives than the raw total suggests.
How many NAS drives do I need for RAID?
It depends on the RAID level. RAID 1 needs two drives and mirrors the data. RAID 5 needs at least three and survives one drive failure, while RAID 6 needs at least four and survives two. RAID protects against drive failure but is not a replacement for a separate backup.
Can I mix different NAS drives in one enclosure?
Usually yes, but it is better to use identical drives. Mixed sizes limit the array to the capacity of the smallest disk, and different speeds or recording types can make performance uneven. Check the NAS manufacturer's compatibility list before combining models.
