How to Get Database Size in SQL
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
SQL database size is important for effective management. It indicates the storage space occupied by tables, indexes, and other components. Knowing the size of a database is useful for various purposes, such as monitoring the growth, estimating the backup time, planning the storage capacity, and optimizing performance.
In this article, we will explore various methods to check SQL database size in SQL. We will cover both GUI tools and SQL queries for measuring the database size accurately. Examples, outputs, and pros/cons of each method will also be included for a comprehensive understanding.
Methods to Check SQL Database Size
The size of a database in SQL Server may be measured in exclusive ways, depending on what we need to include or exclude· For instance, we can measure the scale of the facts documents, the log documents, the reserved space, the used area, the unallocated area, or the whole space· We also can measure the size of a single database, a set of databases, or all databases within the server.
Below are the most effective methods to get SQL Server database size.
1. Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) - GUI Tool
One of the easiest ways to get the size of a database in SQL Server is to use GUI tools, such as SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure Data Studio· These tools provide various reports and properties that display the size of a database in a user-friendly way·
Steps to Check Database Size in SSMS:
- Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
- Connect to your SQL Server instance.
- Right-click on the database we want to check.
- Go to Reports > Standard Reports > Disk Usage.
This will open a report that shows the disk space used by the data and log files of the database, as well as the unallocated space and the reserved space· The report also shows a pie chart and a bar chart that visualizes the system-stored distribution of the space·
GUIOutput
OutputAdvantages and Disadvantages of using the GUI tools
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|
Easy to use | Not suitable for automation or scripting |
Povide a clear and comprehensive view of the size of a database | May not be available or accessible in some environments |
2. Using the sp_spaceused Stored Procedure
Another way to get the size of a database in SQL Server is to use the sp_spaceused system stored procedure· This stored procedure displays the number of rows, disk space reserved, and disk space used by a table, indexed view, or Service Broker queue in the current database, or displays the disk space reserved used by the whole database· To use it, we simply switch to the relevant database and execute the procedure.
Syntax
USE [DatabaseName];
EXEC sp_spaceused;
Query:
USE tempdb;
EXEC sp_spaceused;
Output
sp_helpdb Stored Proceduresp_spaceused Stored Procedure:
sp_spaceused Stored ProcedureExplanation:
- The first result set shows the database size and unallocated space.
- The second result set provides details about reserved space, data space, index space, and unused space.
3. Using the sp_helpdb Stored Procedure
Another system stored procedure that can be used to get the size of a database in SQL Server is sp_helpdb· This stored procedure lists databases that either reside in an instance of the SQL Server or are accessible through a database gateway· To use it, we can either provide the name of the database as an argument or execute it without any argument.
Syntax
EXEC sp_helpdb [DatabaseName];
Query:
EXEC sp_helpdb N'tempdb';
4. Using the sp_databases Stored Procedure
Yet another option to get the size of a database in SQL Server is the sp_databases system stored procedure· This stored procedure lists databases that either reside in an instance of the SQL Server or are accessible through a database gateway. This will return one result set that shows the name, the size, and the remarks of each database.
Query:
EXEC sp_databases;
Output
sp_databases Stored ProcedureAdvantages and Disadvantages of using sp_databases Stored Procedure
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|
It is compatible with earlier versions of SQL Server and other database systems. | - Only shows the total size of the database, not the breakdown of the data and log files or the reserved and used space.
- It also does not provide any additional information about the database.
|
5. Using the sys.master_files Catalog View
Another way to get the size of a database in SQL Server is to use the sys·master_files catalog view· This view contains a row per file of a database as stored in the master database· To use it, we can write a query that aggregates the size of the files by the database ID or the database name.
Query:
SELECT database_name = DB_NAME (database_id)
, log_size_mb = CAST (SUM (CASE WHEN type_desc = 'LOG' THEN size END) * 8. / 1024 AS DECIMAL (8,2))
, row_size_mb = CAST (SUM (CASE WHEN type_desc = 'ROWS' THEN size END) * 8. / 1024 AS DECIMAL (8,2))
, total_size_mb = CAST (SUM (size) * 8. / 1024 AS DECIMAL (8,2))
FROM sys.master_files
GROUP BY database_id;
Output
sys.master_files Catalog ViewExplanation
This will return one result set that shows the name, the log size, the row size, and the total size of each database in megabytes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of using the sys.master_files catalog view
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|
- It provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about the size of the database and its files.
- Works for all databases on the server
| - Requires writing a more complex query and may not be compatible with earlier versions of SQL Server
|
6. Using the sys.databases Catalog View
The last method we will cover in this article is to use the sys·databases catalog view· This view contains one row per database in the instance of SQL Server· To use it, we can write a query that joins the sys·databases view with the sys·master_files view to get the size of the database and its files· This will return one result set that shows the name, the log size, the row size, and the total size of each database in megabytes.
Query:
SELECT d.name AS DatabaseName,
CAST(SUM(mf.size * 8.0 / 1024) AS DECIMAL(10,2)) AS TotalSize_MB
FROM sys.databases d
JOIN sys.master_files mf ON d.database_id = mf.database_id
GROUP BY d.name;
Output
sys.databases Catalog ViewAdvantages and Disadvantages of Using the sys.databases Catalog View
Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|
It provides additional information about the database, such as the recovery model, the collation, the state, and the compatibility level. | 1. Requires writing a more complex query and joining two views. |
it is the most general interface to the catalog metadata, providing the most efficient way to obtain, transform, and present customized forms of this information. | It does not contain information about replication, backup, database maintenance plan, or SQL Server Agent catalog data. |
It contains one row per database in the instance of SQL Server, making it easy to get an overview of all databases. | If a database isn’t ONLINE, or AUTO_CLOSE is set to ON and the database is closed, the values of some columns can be NULL |
Conclusion
Knowing the SQL database size is crucial for monitoring growth, managing storage capacity, and ensuring optimal performance. In this article, we covered various methods to measure database size in SQL Server, including GUI tools like SSMS and queries using sp_spaceused, sys.master_files, and sys.databases. Each method has its pros and cons, allowing us to choose the best approach based on our requirements. For automation and scripting, SQL queries are ideal, while SSMS provides an easy-to-use, visual alternative for database administrators.
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