What counts toward iCloud storage
Apple lists what uses your iCloud space. The main items are:
- Photos and videos in iCloud Photos
- iCloud Backups of your devices
- Files in iCloud Drive
- Messages and attachments, when Messages in iCloud is on
- iCloud Mail, where messages with attachments take more space
- Voice Memos, FaceTime video messages and contact photos and posters
Items in Recently Deleted do not count, and neither do files in someone else's shared iCloud Drive folder. If iCloud Photos is off, your photo library goes into the iCloud Backup instead, so add it there.
The iCloud plan sizes
Every Apple Account gets 5 GB free. iCloud+ adds 50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB, 6 TB or 12 TB, and every iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other family members. If you share a plan, add everyone's data together. Prices change by country, so check them on Apple's page: iCloud+ plans (Apple Support)
Need less iCloud space? Clean the library first
Similar shots, copies, old screenshots and huge videos take iCloud space too. Winnow finds them on your iPhone and shows how much you can free, before you delete anything.
Where these numbers come from
Plan sizes come from Apple's iCloud+ plans page and what counts from Apple's iCloud storage guide. Photo and video sizes are typical values for High Efficiency (HEIC and HEVC) and vary with the scene. 1 GB is counted as 1,000 MB and 1 TB as 1,000 GB, like Apple does. For your exact usage, open Settings › [your name] › iCloud › Storage.
Questions
How much iCloud storage do I need for photos?
It depends on how many photos and how much video you keep. 10,000 photos at 12 MP are about 20 GB, and an hour of 4K video at 30 fps is about 10 GB, so many libraries outgrow the free 5 GB fast. Use the calculator above with your own numbers.
Is 50 GB of iCloud enough?
For a small library and one iPhone backup it can be. If your photos and videos alone are above about 40 GB, 200 GB leaves room to grow.
Do photos count twice, in iCloud Photos and in the backup?
No. When iCloud Photos is on, the library is stored in iCloud Photos and is not part of the iCloud Backup. When it is off, the photos go into the backup.
Does Recently Deleted use iCloud storage?
No. Apple says items in Recently Deleted do not count toward your iCloud storage. On the iPhone, though, they still take space until they are removed after 30 days.
Can I share an iCloud plan with my family?
Yes. Every iCloud+ plan can be shared with up to five other family members. Everyone's data then counts toward the same plan.
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