As your organization grows, so does your SharePoint footprint. Understanding the limits of SharePoint Online storage helps you plan ahead and avoid disruptions.
What are the storage limits?
SharePoint Online has two key limits:
- Tenant-level pooled storage: 1 TB base + 10 GB per licensed user
- Site collection limit: Up to 25 TB per site
These limits apply to modern team sites, communication sites, and sites connected to Microsoft Teams.
📦 Example: A tenant with 300 users gets 4 TB of pooled storage. Each site can grow up to 25 TB, but only if the tenant has enough available space.
What happens when you reach the limit?
If a site or tenant hits its storage cap:
- Users may be unable to upload new files
- Syncing and collaboration features may stop working
- Admins will receive warnings in the Admin Center
This can impact productivity, especially in Teams-connected sites which users are likely to be interacting with very regularly.
How to stay within limits
Here are three strategies to manage storage proactively:
- Archive inactive sites - Use tools like SProbot to identify and archive unused sites.
- Trim version history - Reduce the number of versions retained per document.
- Delete large unused files - Run reports to find oversized files that haven’t been accessed.
🔗 Related reading: Methods to reclaim SharePoint storage
Can you increase the limits?
Yes, but only with additional storage purchases:
Final thoughts
SharePoint Online offers generous storage, but limits still apply. By monitoring usage and cleaning up regularly, you can avoid hitting those caps and keep your environment running smoothly.
