Flash drives are among the most convenient ways to transfer and store digital files of all types. Also known as thumb drives and jump drives, USB flash drives are no more than around an inch in length and fit in all USB ports. Users can easily drag and drop files between the device and a hard drive, and they are often used to store large amounts of video, image, music, and text files. They are also capable of holding applications and software.

Before purchasing a flash drive, you should determine which size is ideal for your use. You’ll find that most flash drives are relatively inexpensive regardless of size, with prices varying mostly depending on the specific features the drive contains.

Here are the different flash drive sizes to choose from, along with some information about each that can help you decide which is right for you.

2GB

While there are flash drives available with less space than 2GB, this is normally the minimum that people will use due to the potential need to store certain large files along with smaller ones.

The 2GB storage capacity is capable of holding up to 50,000 document files and 500 minutes’ worth of music. However, it’s not large enough to contain large video files such as .MP4s and other formats.

4GB

With twice the amount of space as the 2GB flash drive, the 4GB thumb drive is ideal for more moderate use. Students will often use these to keep backups of projects and documents, as 4GB offers enough to accommodate a large number of these types of files. It’s also useful for storing and transferring small amounts of image, music, and video files.

8GB

Using an 8GB flash drive, you can store a decent amount of files. This size is capable of storing thousands of image and music files, and is ideal for students, office workers, or others who would like to use it to backup many years’ worth of records within a single device.

16GB

If you plan on storing and transferring large data or media files, 16GB flash drives and larger are better suited for this purpose. These devices allow users to transfer thousands of music files, along with video files and more.

32GB

This flash drive size is capable of performing many tasks, including holding thousands of data files, transferring larger amounts of high-resolution video files, and entire libraries of music files and photos. You can also store several programs.