When you want to store thousands of photos without spending a lot, 32GB will probably be your ideal memory card size. But before you purchase, you might want to know how many pictures can 32GB hold.
It depends on a number of factors, including the file format, camera resolution, megapixel count, quality settings, and the capturing device. In general, 32GB memory cards can hold about 3,276 to 7,500 JPEG photos and 936 to 2,228 RAW photos taken with a Digital Camera.
So, what about cell phones? How do you know exactly how many pictures can your 32GB hold? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
Count How Many Photos Can a 32GB Hold: An Easy Trick

If you already have a 32GB memory card in hand, you can easily count how many photos it can store. First, insert the memory card into your preferred capturing device (smartphone or digital camera). Now, capture a few pictures with it and check out the average photo file size. After that, follow the formula given below:
A 32GB card’s holding capacity = (32 x 1024) / average file size
For example, if the average picture size on your device is 15MB, your 32GB memory card will hold the following:
(32 x 1024) / 15 = 2184 pictures
However, this might not be the exact number of photos the card can hold, as SD cards only use 90% of their storage to save pictures. The remaining 10% saves some data and settings. So, you need to minus around 200-250 pictures from the original number. In that case, the card will hold 1,967 pictures in total.
Factors that Decide the Holding Capacity of 32GB Memory Cards

Now, we will see how different factors change the number of pictures a 32GB memory card can hold. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
File Format
Your device will save captured pictures in either of the two main file formats: JPEG or RAW.
JPEG Format
This is probably the most common file format used in smartphones and modern cameras. JPEG or JPG refers to the ‘compressed’ file format where the photos have fewer details to keep the image file size low.
As a result, JPEG files take up less storage space. But, such compressed files aren’t that suitable for post-processing as there’s a limited amount of data. Depending on the camera resolution and compression type, JPEG file sizes can be anywhere from 2 MB to 10MB or more. So, the average JPEG image size is 6MB. In this case, your 32GB memory card will hold the following:
(32 x 1024) ÷ 6 = 5461 JPEG files
RAW Format
While JPEG files only contain a few necessary details, RAW files store all the data in an image. So, RAW images are way larger than JPEG image sizes (about 3 times larger). This means a 32GB memory card will store fewer RAW files.
One benefit of RAW file formats is that they are ideal for post-processing as they save more data. Typically, the size of a RAW image is from 22MB to 38 MB. Hence, the average RAW file size is 30MB. In this case, your 32GB SD card will hold the following:
(32 x 1024) ÷ 30 = 1093 RAW files
Camera Resolution
Simply put, camera resolution decides how good the image is, how clear it is, and how much space it will take on your device. The camera resolution is expressed in megapixels which can be anywhere between 1MP and 20MP for most cameras.
High-resolution cameras have more pixels which take higher-quality photos that take more space. Smaller cameras and smartphones capture low-resolution images, and more advanced cameras take high-resolution images.
For example, a picture taken with a 1MP camera takes about 6MB in your memory card, whereas a picture taken with a 20MP camera will take about 20-30MB (15MB average).
So, if you’re shooting with a 2MP camera, your 32GB SD card will hold the following:
(32 x 1024) ÷ 6 = 5461 pictures
And if you’re taking pictures with a 2MP camera, your 32GB memory card will hold the following:
(32 x 1024) ÷ 15 = 1310 pictures
Capturing Device
Most of us capture photos with either smartphones or digital cameras. Both these devices come with different camera resolutions. Besides, they have RAW and JPEG quality settings. As a result, the camera’s file size will vary depending on the specifications of your capturing device.
Typically, the images captured on a digital camera take more space compared to those taken on a mobile camera. The reason is better quality settings, added precision, details, high shutter speed, etc., on a digital camera.
In general, smartphone cameras are 8 to 12 megapixels, and digital cameras are 16 to 60 megapixels. Moreover, the JPEG images taken on a smartphone is mostly 2 to 6 MB, whereas a digital camera takes 10MB or more JPEG images in general.
Because of multiple quality options, the photos taken by a camera brand like Nikon won’t be the same size as photos taken on a Canon. Similarly, android and iPhone devices won’t capture images of the same size. Therefore, the storage capacity of your 32GB SD memory card will change depending on the capturing device.
Wrapping Up!
So, how many pictures can 32GB hold? Now you know the answer. As there is no fixed number, we have provided an estimated average size for different formats to give you an overall idea. If you want to be fully sure, set your camera and file settings as you prefer and click some pictures. After that, you can use our trick to get the exact number.
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