Seagate IronWolf NAS Hard Drives — Prices & Deals 2026
The industry standard for NAS storage. Compare IronWolf and IronWolf Pro prices sorted by cost per TB. Compatible with Synology, QNAP, ASUSTOR, and all major NAS brands.
Quick Answer+
Seagate IronWolf is one of the top NAS drive choices alongside WD Red Plus. All models use CMR technology (no SMR), feature AgileArray optimization and rotational vibration sensors for multi-bay NAS, and integrate with IronWolf Health Management on Synology/QNAP. Standard IronWolf (1-18TB, 3-year warranty) suits most home users; IronWolf Pro (2-24TB, 5-year warranty, included Rescue data recovery) is for business and heavy workloads. Best value is typically 8-12TB capacity.
- All CMR technology (no SMR)
- IronWolf Health Management integration
- Standard: 1-18TB, 3-year warranty
- Pro: 2-24TB, 5-year warranty + Rescue
- Best value: 8TB-12TB capacity range
Seagate IronWolf is one of the most trusted names in NAS storage, alongside WD Red Plus. Designed specifically for 24/7 operation in multi-bay NAS systems, IronWolf drives feature AgileArray technology, rotational vibration sensors, and IronWolf Health Management (IHM) integration with Synology, QNAP, and other major NAS brands.
Available in capacities from 1TB to 18TB (standard) and up to 24TB (Pro), all IronWolf drives use CMR technology — essential for reliable RAID performance. Choose IronWolf for home NAS (1-8 bays) or IronWolf Pro for business environments and demanding workloads (up to 24 bays).
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about IronWolf drives: specifications, capacity recommendations, NAS compatibility, comparisons with competitors, and current pricing.
IronWolf Pricing Overview — January 2026
Current IronWolf pricing by capacity:
| Capacity | IronWolf Price | IronWolf Pro Price | $/TB (Standard) | Best Value? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4TB | ~$95 | ~$135 | $24/TB | Entry-level only |
| 8TB | ~$160 | ~$220 | $20/TB | ✓ Sweet spot |
| 12TB | ~$210 | ~$280 | $17.50/TB | ✓ Best $/TB |
| 16TB | ~$290 | ~$350 | $18/TB | ✓ High capacity |
| 18TB | ~$330 | ~$400 | $18.50/TB | Max standard |
| 20TB+ | N/A | ~$450-550 | $22-25/TB | Pro only |
Pro tip: For pure $/TB value, compare IronWolf to Seagate Exos enterprise drives — often $2-5/TB cheaper with longer 5-year warranties. See our IronWolf vs Exos comparison.
IronWolf Product Lines
IronWolf Pro
Enterprise-grade NAS drives with 7200 RPM, 300TB/year workload, 5-year warranty, and included Rescue data recovery. For business and demanding environments.
2TB - 24TB | 5-Year WarrantyIronWolf Health Management
Advanced drive monitoring integrated with Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR. Preventive care alerts and workload analysis beyond SMART.
Exclusive to IronWolfRescue Data Recovery
Professional data recovery service included with IronWolf Pro. Optional add-on for standard IronWolf. 90% success rate.
Included with ProIronWolf 525 SSD
NVMe SSD for NAS caching. High endurance for 24/7 operation. Compatible with Synology and QNAP M.2 slots.
NVMe Cache DriveShop IronWolf by Capacity
IronWolf 4TB
Entry-level NAS storage. Good for single-drive NAS or budget 2-bay builds. Higher $/TB than larger capacities.
~$95 | $24/TBIronWolf 8TB
Sweet spot for home NAS users. Excellent balance of capacity, value, and bay efficiency. Most popular capacity.
~$160 | $20/TBIronWolf 12TB
Best $/TB in the IronWolf lineup. Ideal for Plex servers and media collections. Popular for 4-bay builds.
~$210 | $17.50/TBIronWolf 16TB
High capacity for serious NAS builders. Great for maximizing storage in limited bays. Strong value in Pro models.
~$290 | $18/TBIronWolf 18TB
Maximum capacity in standard IronWolf line. For users who need every terabyte per bay.
~$330 | $18.50/TBIronWolf Pro 20TB+
Maximum density storage. 20TB, 22TB, and 24TB available in Pro line only. For enterprise and serious data hoarders.
~$450-550 | Pro OnlyIronWolf vs IronWolf Pro — Which Should You Buy?
Understanding the differences helps you choose the right drive for your needs:
| Specification | IronWolf | IronWolf Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Capacities | 1TB - 18TB | 2TB - 24TB |
| RPM | 5,400 / 5,900 / 7,200 | 7,200 (all models) |
| Cache | 64MB - 256MB | 256MB (all models) |
| Workload Rating | 180 TB/year | 300 TB/year |
| MTBF | 1 million hours | 1.2 million hours |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 years |
| Max Bays Supported | 1-8 bays | 1-24 bays |
| Data Recovery | Optional (Rescue add-on) | 3-year Rescue included |
| Price Premium | Baseline | +25-40% |
| Best For | Home NAS, Personal Servers | Business, SMB, Heavy Workloads |
Choose IronWolf (Standard) If:
- You have 1-8 drive bays (typical home NAS)
- Workload is under 180TB/year (most home users)
- Budget is a primary concern
- Using for Plex, file storage, backup
Choose IronWolf Pro If:
- You have 8+ drive bays
- Running a business or SMB environment
- Heavy workloads (video editing, databases)
- You want included Rescue data recovery
- Need capacities above 18TB
- 5-year warranty is important
For detailed comparison, see our IronWolf vs IronWolf Pro guide.
IronWolf Key Features
AgileArray Technology
Dual-plane balance and RAID-optimized firmware for multi-drive environments. Reduces vibration and improves performance in NAS enclosures.
NAS-Optimized FirmwareIronWolf Health Management
Integrates with Synology, QNAP, ASUSTOR for advanced monitoring beyond SMART.
Preventive MonitoringRotational Vibration Sensors
RV sensors detect and compensate for vibration in multi-drive enclosures, maintaining performance and extending drive life.
Multi-Bay StabilityCMR Technology
Conventional Magnetic Recording ensures consistent write performance — critical for RAID rebuilds and sustained workloads. No SMR slowdowns.
Reliable Writes24/7 Operation
Designed for always-on NAS environments. Rated for continuous operation with 180-300 TB/year workload capacity.
Always-On ReadyRescue Data Recovery
Professional data recovery service with 90% success rate. Included free with IronWolf Pro, optional for standard.
Pro IncludedIronWolf NAS Compatibility
IronWolf drives are compatible with all major NAS brands and benefit from IronWolf Health Management integration:
Synology Compatibility
IronWolf is officially listed on Synology's compatibility list and fully supports IronWolf Health Management in DSM. See our detailed guides:
- Seagate IronWolf Synology Compatibility Guide
- Complete Synology Compatible Drives List
- IronWolf vs WD Red for Synology
Popular Synology models with IronWolf:
- Synology DS224+ — Best 2-bay for most users
- Synology DS423+ — Best 4-bay value
- Synology DS923+ — Best 4-bay for business
- Synology DS1621+ — Best 6-bay expandable
QNAP Compatibility
QNAP supports IronWolf Health Management in QTS. IronWolf drives work with all QNAP NAS models:
ASUSTOR Compatibility
ASUSTOR ADM also supports IronWolf Health Management. See:
Other NAS Brands
IronWolf works with TerraMaster, Drobo, Buffalo, and other NAS brands. IHM support varies by manufacturer.
IronWolf vs Competitors
How IronWolf compares to other popular NAS drives:
| Drive | Workload | Warranty | 8TB Price | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IronWolf | 180 TB/yr | 3 years | ~$160 | IronWolf Health Management |
| WD Red Plus | 180 TB/yr | 3 years | ~$155 | Quieter, larger cache |
| Seagate Exos | 550 TB/yr | 5 years | ~$140 | Best $/TB, enterprise grade |
| WD Ultrastar | 550 TB/yr | 5 years | ~$145 | Enterprise, competitive pricing |
| Toshiba N300 | 180 TB/yr | 3 years | ~$150 | Good value alternative |
Detailed Comparison Guides
- IronWolf vs WD Red — The ultimate NAS drive showdown
- IronWolf vs IronWolf Pro — Which tier do you need?
- IronWolf vs Exos — NAS vs Enterprise for home use
- IronWolf vs Barracuda — Why NAS drives matter
- IronWolf vs Toshiba N300 — Seagate vs Toshiba NAS
- IronWolf vs SkyHawk — NAS vs Surveillance drives
Which IronWolf Capacity Should You Buy?
Choosing the right capacity depends on your NAS, budget, and storage needs:
4TB IronWolf — Entry Level
- Best for: Single-drive NAS, budget 2-bay builds
- Drawback: Highest $/TB (~$24/TB)
- Recommendation: Only if budget is very tight; 8TB is better value
8TB IronWolf — Sweet Spot ✓
- Best for: Most home NAS users, 2-4 bay systems
- Value: Good $/TB (~$20/TB), practical capacity
- Recommendation: Best starting point for new NAS builders
12TB IronWolf — Best Value ✓
- Best for: Plex servers, media hoarders, 4-bay builds
- Value: Often best $/TB in lineup (~$17.50/TB)
- Recommendation: Excellent choice for serious home NAS
16TB IronWolf — High Capacity
- Best for: Maximizing storage per bay, data hoarders
- Value: Good $/TB (~$18/TB), high total capacity
- Recommendation: Great when bay space is limited
18TB IronWolf — Maximum Standard
- Best for: Maximum capacity in standard IronWolf line
- Note: For 20TB+, need IronWolf Pro
Capacity planning tip: Use our RAID Calculator to determine usable capacity after RAID overhead. See also: How Many IronWolf Drives Do I Need?
IronWolf RAID Configuration
IronWolf drives excel in RAID configurations thanks to CMR technology and RV sensors:
Recommended RAID Levels
- 2-bay NAS: RAID 1 (mirror) or SHR
- 4-bay NAS: RAID 5, SHR, or SHR-2 for extra protection
- 6+ bay NAS: RAID 6, SHR-2, or RAID 10 for performance
For detailed configuration guidance, see:
IronWolf Use Case Recommendations
Which IronWolf configuration is right for your specific needs:
🎬 Plex Media Server
- Recommended:IronWolf 12TB × 2-4 drives
- Why: Best $/TB, plenty of capacity for 4K media libraries
- RAID: SHR or RAID 5 for balance of capacity and protection
- NAS:Synology DS423+ or DS923+
- See: Best Synology NAS for Plex
🏠 Home File Server / Backup
- Recommended:IronWolf 8TB × 2 drives
- Why: Sweet spot capacity, good value, room to grow
- RAID: RAID 1 or SHR for simple redundancy
- NAS:Synology DS224+
- See: Best Synology NAS for Home
📸 Photography / Video Editing
- Recommended:IronWolf Pro 16TB × 4+ drives
- Why: Higher workload rating for heavy writes, 5-year warranty
- RAID: RAID 5 or RAID 6 depending on capacity needs
- Consider: Add IronWolf 525 SSD cache for responsiveness
- NAS:Synology DS1621+ with 10GbE upgrade
🏢 Small Business / SMB
- Recommended:IronWolf Pro (any capacity based on needs)
- Why: 5-year warranty, Rescue data recovery included, 300TB/yr workload
- RAID: RAID 6 or SHR-2 for maximum protection
- NAS:Synology DS923+ or larger
- See: Best Synology NAS for Small Business
📹 Surveillance / Security Cameras
- Not recommended: IronWolf is optimized for NAS, not surveillance
- Better choice:Seagate SkyHawk or WD Purple
- Why: Surveillance drives have AllFrame/ImagePerfect firmware for video
- See: IronWolf vs SkyHawk Comparison
- See: Best Synology NAS for Surveillance
💾 Data Hoarding / Archive
- Recommended:IronWolf 16TB or 18TB
- Alternative:Seagate Exos for better $/TB value
- Why: Maximize storage per bay, cost efficiency at scale
- RAID: RAID 6 or SHR-2 for large arrays
Should You Use Enterprise Drives Instead?
Many home NAS users wonder whether Seagate Exos or WD Ultrastar enterprise drives are better than IronWolf:
Enterprise Drives (Exos/Ultrastar) Advantages:
- Better $/TB: Often $2-5/TB cheaper than IronWolf
- Longer warranty: 5 years standard (vs 3 years for IronWolf)
- Higher workload: 550TB/year (vs 180TB/year)
- Higher MTBF: 2.5 million hours (vs 1 million)
IronWolf Advantages:
- Quieter: 5400/5900 RPM options vs always 7200 RPM
- IronWolf Health Management: Advanced monitoring in NAS
- Purpose-built: Designed specifically for NAS environments
- Rescue service: Optional data recovery add-on
Our Recommendation:
For a NAS in a closet, basement, or server room: Consider Exos for better value and longer warranty. The noise won't matter.
For a NAS in living space or office: IronWolf's quieter operation and NAS-specific features justify the premium.
See our detailed IronWolf vs Exos comparison for the full breakdown.
All Seagate IronWolf Prices — Sorted by $/TB
Compare all IronWolf and IronWolf Pro NAS drives. Prices updated hourly from Amazon. Click column headers to sort.
IronWolf Buying Tips
Get the best value when purchasing IronWolf drives:
💰 Best Time to Buy
- Prime Day (July): Typically 15-25% off IronWolf drives
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Best deals of the year, 20-30% off
- Back to School (August): Occasional storage deals
- Check regularly: IronWolf prices fluctuate; use our price tracker above
🔍 What to Check Before Buying
- Model number: Ensure it's genuine IronWolf (ST#000VN series), not Barracuda
- Seller: Buy from Amazon directly or authorized resellers for valid warranty
- CMR verification: All IronWolf is CMR, but double-check specs
- Pro vs Standard: Don't overpay for Pro if you don't need the features
📦 Quantity Discounts
- Buying 4+ drives? Check B&H Photo and Newegg for bundle deals
- Business buyers: Contact Seagate directly for volume pricing
- Consider buying all drives at once for consistent batch quality
⚠️ Avoid These Mistakes
- Don't buy refurbished for NAS primary storage (fine for backup)
- Don't buy from grey market sellers — warranty may not be honored
- Don't confuse IronWolf with Barracuda — Barracuda may use SMR
- Don't buy 4TB or smaller unless on extreme budget — poor $/TB value
IronWolf Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions for IronWolf drives:
- IronWolf Not Detected in NAS — Troubleshooting detection issues
- IronWolf Clicking Noise — When to worry about drive sounds
- IronWolf SMART Errors — Understanding drive health warnings
- Synology Drive Initialization Failed — NAS setup troubleshooting
- Synology Slow Transfer Speeds — Performance optimization
Frequently Asked Questions About Seagate IronWolf
Is Seagate IronWolf good for NAS?
Yes, IronWolf is one of the best NAS drives available. Purpose-built for 24/7 NAS operation with AgileArray technology, rotational vibration sensors, and IronWolf Health Management integration. All models use CMR technology for reliable RAID performance. Compatible with all major NAS brands including Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR. The main competitor is WD Red Plus, which is equally excellent — choose based on price and features.
IronWolf vs IronWolf Pro — which should I buy?
Standard IronWolf is sufficient for most home NAS users. Choose IronWolf Pro if you: have more than 8 drive bays, need higher workload rating (300TB/year vs 180TB/year), want included 3-year Rescue data recovery, need capacities above 18TB, or run a business where the 5-year warranty matters. For typical home Plex/file servers, standard IronWolf is more cost-effective. See our detailed comparison.
Is IronWolf CMR or SMR?
All IronWolf drives use CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording). This is essential for NAS — CMR provides consistent write performance and reliable RAID rebuilds. Seagate has never used SMR in the IronWolf line. This is a key advantage over some competitors (WD Red non-Plus uses SMR). Always verify CMR when buying NAS drives. See our CMR vs SMR guide for details.
IronWolf vs WD Red — which is better?
Both are excellent — the choice often comes down to price and specific features. IronWolf advantages: IronWolf Health Management integration, Rescue data recovery option. WD Red Plus advantages: slightly quieter operation, larger cache on some models. Core specs are nearly identical: both use CMR, both have vibration sensors, both have 3-year warranties. See our comprehensive IronWolf vs WD Red comparison.
What is IronWolf Health Management (IHM)?
IronWolf Health Management is Seagate's advanced drive monitoring system that integrates with compatible NAS devices (Synology DSM, QNAP QTS, ASUSTOR ADM). It goes beyond standard SMART monitoring to provide workload analysis, preventive care recommendations, and early warning of potential issues. IHM can help you take action before drive failure, potentially saving your data. It's a genuine advantage over WD Red drives. Learn more in our IHM setup guide.
How long do IronWolf drives last?
IronWolf drives typically last 3-5+ years with proper use. They're rated for 1 million hours MTBF (1.2 million for Pro). Real-world lifespan depends on workload, temperature, and vibration. Backblaze data shows Seagate drives with good reliability when used within rated workloads. The 3-year warranty (5-year Pro) reflects Seagate's confidence. For critical data, always use RAID redundancy and regular backups — no drive lasts forever.
IronWolf vs Exos — which is better for home NAS?
Both are excellent, but Exos often offers better value. Exos is enterprise-grade with 5-year warranty, 550TB/year workload rating, and often lower $/TB than IronWolf. Trade-offs: Exos may be slightly louder (7200 RPM) and lacks IronWolf Health Management. For pure reliability and value, Exos wins. For quieter operation and NAS-specific software features, IronWolf wins. Many home NAS enthusiasts use Exos with excellent results. See our detailed comparison.
Can I mix IronWolf with other drives in my NAS?
Yes, you can mix IronWolf with other NAS drives, though it's not always recommended. Mixing different drives in RAID works but can have issues: the array runs at the speed of the slowest drive, different vibration characteristics may affect performance, and mixed warranties complicate replacements. Many users successfully mix IronWolf with WD Red Plus for redundancy (different failure modes). If mixing, ensure all drives are CMR and NAS-rated.
IronWolf Guides & Resources
Product Guides
- Seagate IronWolf Pro Complete Guide
- IronWolf Health Management Setup
- IronWolf Rescue Data Recovery Service
- How Many IronWolf Drives Do I Need?
Comparison Guides
- IronWolf vs WD Red Complete Comparison
- IronWolf vs IronWolf Pro
- IronWolf vs Exos for Home NAS
- IronWolf vs Toshiba N300
NAS Setup Guides
- Complete Synology NAS Storage Guide
- Synology RAID Configuration Guide
- Synology Hyper Backup Guide
- Synology Active Backup Guide