Find the Cheapest 26TB NAS Drive Today
Two models confirmed as CMR by their maker at 26TB, both Western Digital
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Two 26TB drives are confirmed as CMR by their maker, both Western Digital: the WD Red Pro WD260KFGX and the Ultrastar DC HC590. A third, the WD Gold WD261KRYZ, has a WD brief that gives its ratings but does not name a recording type, so it is listed in the reference section only. Each of the three carries a 2.5 million hour MTBF and a five-year limited warranty, with a workload rating of 550TB a year. Before buying, check the bay limit: of the NAS brands recorded on this site, TerraMaster and UGREEN quote 26TB or more per bay on at least one model, while QNAP (24TB), Asustor (18TB) and Synology (24TB) stop short of it.
The 26TB models, from Western Digital's datasheets
| WD Red Pro | WD Gold | Ultrastar DC HC590 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | WD260KFGX | WD261KRYZ | WUH722626AL (SATA and SAS versions) |
| Recording | CMR | Not stated in the brief; OptiNAND and ArmorCache listed | CMR, with ePMR |
| Workload rating | 550TB a year | Up to 550TB a year | 550TB a year |
| MTBF | 2,500,000 hours | 2,500,000 hours | 2.5 million hours |
| Annualized failure rate | Not stated | 0.35% | 0.35% |
| Limited warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Sustained transfer rate | 287MB/s | 285MB/s | 302MB/s |
| Power | See WD's datasheet | 6.7W operational, 5.6W idle | 8.4W random read and write, 5.6W idle (SATA) |
| Noise | See WD's datasheet | See WD's brief | 3.2 Bels operating, 2.5 Bels idle |
| Built as | Helium, 7200 RPM, 512MB cache, RV sensors | Helium, 7200 RPM, 512MB cache | Helium, 7200 RPM, 512MB buffer |
Which NAS bays accept a 26TB drive
| Brand | Models recorded | Largest drive the maker quotes | Models that take 26TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TerraMaster | 4 | 30TB | 4 of 4 |
| UGREEN | 8 | 32TB | 8 of 8 |
| QNAP | 6 | 24TB | 0 of 3 (3 with no figure) |
| Asustor | 2 | 18TB | 0 of 2 |
| Synology | 10 | 24TB | 0 of 10 |
What 26TB drives hold, by layout
| Drives | Protection | Raw | Usable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two | Mirror | 52TB | 26TB |
| Four | One drive | 104TB | 78TB |
| Four | Two drives | 104TB | 52TB |
| Six | Two drives | 156TB | 104TB |
| Eight | Two drives | 208TB | 156TB |
Reading the three against each other
The ratings that usually separate drive lines do not separate these: workload, MTBF and warranty are the same on all three datasheets. What differs is the product they are sold as. The Red Pro is WD's NAS line and its datasheet states CMR and rotational-vibration sensors. The Gold and the Ultrastar are enterprise lines; the HC590 datasheet states CMR and gives the highest sustained transfer rate of the three.
So at 26TB the table is close to a pure price comparison between the two confirmed models, provided your NAS accepts the size.
From 22TB up, this site treats a drive as CMR only when a document from its maker says so. The WD Gold brief does not, and the model numbers on the 26TB Seagate Exos listings we track are in no Seagate datasheet we could read. Those listings are kept out of the table above and shown in the reference section, each with a badge naming the maker.
Where the figures come from
Western Digital's WD Red Pro data sheet, WD Gold product brief and Ultrastar DC HC590 data sheet, read on October 12, 2026. NAS bay limits are each maker's own figure, from the specification pages recorded on this site. Usable capacity is drives minus protection, times 26TB, in decimal terabytes.
Checked on October 12, 2026. Sources: Western Digital: WD Red Pro NAS hard drive data sheet; Western Digital: WD Gold enterprise class SATA HDD product brief; Western Digital: Ultrastar DC HC590 data sheet.
26TB NAS drives, by price per TB
26TB drives whose maker states CMR in a document of its own. A listing with no such record, the WD Gold and the 26TB Seagate Exos among them, appears only in the reference section under the table, labelled.
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Type | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Digital 26TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, CMR, 512 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD260KFGX | 26 TB | $1,240.99 | $47.73 | NAS HDD · SATACMR | - | Buy on Amazon |
Renewed, refurbished and used listings
Shown for reference. These are not counted in the best price per TB above, and warranty terms differ from new drives.
Frequently asked questions
Which 26TB drives are CMR?
The WD Red Pro WD260KFGX and the Ultrastar DC HC590 are stated as CMR on Western Digital's datasheets. The WD Gold brief does not name a recording type, and no Seagate datasheet we could read lists the 26TB Exos model numbers on sale, so neither is treated as confirmed.
Which NAS takes a 26TB drive?
Of the brands recorded here, TerraMaster and UGREEN quote 26TB or more per bay on at least one model. QNAP (24TB), Asustor (18TB) and Synology (24TB) quote less. Check your exact model's page.
How much usable space do four 26TB drives give?
78TB with one drive of protection, 52TB with two, from 104TB raw.