Each Stanford Google My Drive and shared drive can store up to 5TB at no charge. If you need more than 5 TB, submit a request to change your Google drive storage. Providing a PTA will move your drive to our premium option, which offers unlimited pay-as-you go storage.
Please note: Starting Sept. 1, 2025, drives storing more than 5 TB will switch to “read-only” mode unless premium storage is ordered.
Request Changes to Google Drive Storage
Know this before you start
- A valid PTA is required to purchase storage through the university. Only one PTA can be charged per drive.
- Anyone can submit a PTA for a My Drive or shared drive, even if they are not an owner or manager of the drive. If purchasing on behalf of someone else, you, along with the drive owner or manager indicated on the form, will receive communications.
- If you are changing a shared drive, you'll need to identify the drive by entering the drive name or drive ID.
- Billing for storage beyond 5 TB begins in September 2025. The monthly charge per drive will be based on actual storage usage as of the 15th day of the billing month. If files are added or deleted, it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to be updated in your account.
View sample pricing
Use the information in this table to estimate your costs for purchasing Google Workspace storage. Remember, billing is based on actual usage at a rate of $0.15 per GB annually ($12.50 per TB monthly). There is no charge for the first 5 TB of storage, which is included in the base tier. Use this table to estimate your costs. If you'd like help to understand your costs, please submit a request to the storage consulting team.
| Total Storage Used | Billable Charge |
|---|---|
| 5 TB | Free (No cost based on 5 TB free base tier storage) |
| 7.5 TB | $375 annual cost/ $31.25 billed monthly (Based on 2,500 GB billable usage plus 5 TB free base tier storage) |
| 10 TB | $750 annual cost/ $62.50 billed monthly (Based on 5,000 GB billable usage plus 5 TB free base tier storage) |
| 15 TB | $1,500 annual cost/ $125 billed monthly (Based on 10,000 GB billable usage plus 5 TB free base tier storage) |
FAQs
How does the storage limit affect me?
The university offers two tiers of Google Workspace storage service:
- Free base tier: Below the 5 TB storage limit, continue to use Google Workspace My Drive and shared drives at no cost.
- Premium paid tier: For storage needs above 5 TB, submit a PTA to be billed monthly based on actual use at an annual rate of 0.15 per GB ($12.50 per TB month) for 2025.
The actions you need to take will depend upon how much data you store in your My Drive or any shared drives you manage.
- Below the 5 TB storage limit? If you are comfortably below the storage limit, you don't need to take any action. You can continue to use the free base tier, which the overwhelming majority of the Stanford community will use.
- Near or above the limit? Submit a PTA before the storage limit is applied to begin the premium service and ensure uninterrupted collaboration. Otherwise, your drive will become "read-only" and you (and your collaborators) can access the drive and download data, but won't be able to upload files, create new content, edit, or copy existing files.
Can you help me estimate pricing for Google Workspace?
These tips may help you estimate pricing:
- Billing is based on actual usage at a rate of $0.15 per GB annually for FY 2025.
- There is no charge for the first 5 TB of storage, which is included in the free base tier provided by the university. Even if you submit a PTA, you will not be charged for the "free tier."
Can more than one PTA be used to purchase paid storage for a shared drive?
PTA "splits" cannot be accommodated. Only one PTA can be charged.
I need to add the same PTA to multiple drives. Do I need to submit a separate form for each one?
One-time bulk requests to add the same PTA to multiple drives can be accommodated through July 31, 2025. Please work with your local IT team if you'd like to submit a bulk order.
What information will I need to submit a purchase order for a paid storage tier?
You'll need to provide the SUNetID for the account owner or shared drive manager. If purchasing storage for a shared drive, you'll need to provide the drive name or ID.
What happens if I move below the storage limit?
You will not be charged for storage that month.
What happens to a billing request if the owner of a My Drive leaves Stanford?
When the account is deactivated, the billing order is canceled and the monthly billings will stop.
