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LTO-4 Tape Storage – Secure, Reliable Backup at the Best Price

LTO-4 Tape Prices - Compare Best Deals on 800GB Cartridges

LTO-4 Tape Storage – Secure, Reliable Backup at the Best Price

LTO-4 tape marked a major leap forward for professional data storage. With hardware-level encryption and WORM (Write Once Read Many) support, it brought enterprise-grade security to affordable tape systems. Below you’ll find live price-per-TB rankings for 800 GB native (1.6 TB compressed) LTO-4 Ultrium cartridges from HPE, IBM, Fujifilm, Quantum, and more. Perfect for budget-conscious archives that still demand integrity and compliance.

Upgrading from LTO-3? You’ll gain double the capacity, built-in encryption, and compatibility with both LTO-5 drives and legacy LTO-3 libraries. All prices refresh daily to give you the best-value snapshot in real time.

Current LTO-4 Tape Price Comparison

The table below ranks the latest LTO-4 cartridges by best value (price per TB). Click any product to confirm current pricing and availability.

Quick Specs (LTO-4 at a Glance)

  • Capacity: 800 GB native / 1.6 TB compressed
  • Transfer rate: up to 120 MB/s native, 240 MB/s compressed
  • Encryption: AES-256 hardware encryption standard
  • WORM: supported for compliance and tamper-proof archiving
  • Compatibility: read/write LTO-4 & LTO-3, read LTO-2
  • Media type: Metal Particle (MP) with improved durability
  • Archival life: up to 30 years under controlled conditions

Why Choose LTO-4 Tape

LTO-4 Tape Storage is ideal for organizations that need secure, long-term, offline backups without the costs of cloud or disk systems. Encryption protects sensitive data, while WORM cartridges meet government and industry retention standards. It’s the sweet spot between older, budget formats and modern enterprise reliability.

LTO-4 vs Other Generations

LTO-4 vs LTO-3

  • 2× the capacity (800 GB vs 400 GB native)
  • 1.5× faster data rate (120 MB/s vs 80 MB/s)
  • Built-in AES-256 encryption and standard WORM support
  • Same 30-year archival life and backward compatibility

LTO-4 vs LTO-5

  • LTO-5 offers 1.5 TB native, 3 TB compressed capacity
  • LTO-5 introduces LTFS for drag-and-drop file management
  • LTO-4 remains the lowest-cost encrypted format for legacy hardware

Buying Tips for LTO-4 Tape in 2025

  • Look for sealed media: Ensure original manufacturer packaging to avoid worn cartridges.
  • Check drive firmware: Update to the latest version for reliable encryption key handling.
  • WORM usage: Buy WORM cartridges only if regulatory retention applies; standard RW works for backups.
  • Secondary market: LTO-4 media is still plentiful—compare unit price and pack discounts.
  • Migration plan: Use LTO-5 drives to migrate LTO-4 archives forward when upgrading.

Performance Expectations

  • Native write: ~100–120 MB/s typical sustained rate
  • Full-tape write time: about 2 hours for 800 GB native
  • Compression: typically 1.4–1.8× for mixed data (varies by content type)
  • Energy use: negligible once written—zero-power archival medium

Storage Best Practices

  • Keep in a clean, dry environment (20–50% RH, 16–25 °C)
  • Store vertically in cases to prevent edge stress
  • Label and rotate tapes regularly to avoid overuse
  • Clean drives every 25–50 tapes or 100 hours of operation

When to Migrate Off LTO-4

If encryption keys or hardware start failing, migrate early to LTO-6 or newer. LTO-5 drives can read/write LTO-4, making them ideal for transition.

Compare Other LTO Generations

Resources (Non-Sales)

LTO-4 Frequently Asked Questions

Does LTO-4 support encryption?
Yes. It’s the first LTO generation with native AES-256 hardware encryption.

How much data fits on one LTO-4 tape?
800 GB native and up to 1.6 TB compressed (2:1 ratio on text data).

Can LTO-5 drives read LTO-4 tapes?
Yes. LTO-5 drives read/write LTO-4 and read/write their own format.

Is LTO-4 still a good buy?
Yes—if you need secure, low-cost offline backup. For active production, step up to LTO-6+.

What’s the best upgrade path?
Migrate via an LTO-5 drive to newer media, keeping LTO-4 for short-term access.

Last updated: • Prices are updated daily.