LTO tapes & tape storage, built to last 30 years.
LTO-10 and LTO-9 tape, LTO tape libraries and autoloaders from every major brand — with same-day quotes, UK next-day delivery and expert, independent advice from Fortuna Data.
Choose your LTO generation
Genuine, new and sealed LTO Ultrium data cartridges from HPE, IBM, Quantum, Fujifilm, Sony and Spectra Logic — singles, 5-packs, 20-packs and pre-labelled library packs.
LTO-10 tape
LatestThe highest-capacity LTO tape ever. 30 TB or 40 TB native per cartridge with AES-256 encryption and WORM options.
View LTO-10 tapes →LTO-9 tape
Best value18 TB native, reads and writes LTO-8. The go-to LTO tape for backup in mixed estates.
View LTO-9 tapes →LTO-8 tape
12 TB native, reads and writes LTO-7. Still widely used for enterprise backup.
View LTO-8 tapes →The lowest-cost, longest-lasting place to keep your data
Disk and cloud are great for hot data. For backup copies, archives and compliance retention, nothing beats LTO tape on cost, security and longevity.
Lowest cost per terabyte
LTO tape has the lowest cost per TB of any mainstream storage, with no egress or retrieval fees.
Air-gapped ransomware defence
A cartridge out of the drive is offline. Ransomware cannot encrypt or delete what it cannot reach.
30-year archive life
LTO media is rated for up to 30 years when stored at 16–25 °C and 20–50% RH.
Zero power at rest
Tapes on a shelf or in a library slot draw no power and need no cooling — a far smaller carbon footprint than spinning disk.
AES-256 encryption & WORM
Hardware encryption at full speed plus write-once WORM media for immutable, compliant retention.
Open standard, no lock-in
HPE, IBM, Quantum, Fujifilm and Sony media are interchangeable. Choose drives and libraries from any vendor.
From a single tape drive to a multi-petabyte LTO tape library
We supply and configure LTO tape drives, autoloaders and libraries from HPE, IBM, Quantum, Dell, Spectra Logic, Qualstar and more.
LTO tape drives
Internal, external desktop and rack-mount LTO-10, LTO-9 and LTO-8 drives with SAS, Fibre Channel or Thunderbolt connectivity.
Learn more →LTO tape autoloaders
1U and 2U autoloaders with 8 to 24 slots for unattended backup in SMEs and branch offices.
Learn more →LTO tape libraries
Modular and enterprise tape libraries from 24 slots to thousands, with partitioning and capacity-on-demand.
Learn more →Everything you need for LTO tape backup and archive
LTO tapes for every generation
We stock and source LTO tapes for every generation still in use — from the latest LTO-10 tape (30 TB, or 40 TB on the new LTO-10 40 TB cartridge) and LTO-9 tape (18 TB) through LTO-8, LTO-7 and legacy LTO-6 and LTO-5 media. Every cartridge is genuine, new and sealed, from HPE, IBM, Quantum, Fujifilm, Sony and Spectra Logic.
WORM and cleaning cartridges
Need immutable retention? LTO WORM tape lets you append data but never overwrite or erase it — ideal for compliance and ransomware protection. Keep drives healthy with LTO universal cleaning cartridges that work across all generations.
LTO tape libraries
Our LTO tape library range runs from compact 24-slot units to modular enterprise systems with thousands of slots, dozens of drives and capacity-on-demand licensing — from Quantum, HPE, IBM, Spectra Logic, Qualstar and Dell.
LTO tape autoloaders
An LTO tape autoloader automates backups for smaller sites: one or two LTO-9 or LTO-10 drives and 8 to 24 slots in a 1U or 2U chassis, holding up to 720 TB native with LTO-10 media.
Tape drives and software
Complete the picture with internal, external and rack-mount LTO tape drives, plus backup and archive software and LTFS for drag-and-drop tape access.
Expert, independent advice
Fortuna Data has specialised in data storage since 1994. We are not tied to any single manufacturer, so we recommend the LTO tape storage that fits your data, budget and retention — and quote the same working day.
A storage tier built for the long haul
Egress or retrieval fees
Your data is on your cartridges. Restore as often as you like at no extra cost.
On a single cartridge
LTO-10 40 TB media stores up to 100 TB compressed in a 102 × 105 × 21 mm cartridge.
Per drive, native
LTO-9 and LTO-10 drives stream at 400 MB/s native — faster still with compressible data.
LTO tape generations at a glance
Native and compressed capacity, speed and drive compatibility for current LTO tapes.
| Generation | Native capacity | Compressed | Native speed | Compressed speed | Drive compatibility | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTO-10 | 30 TB / 40 TB | 75 TB / 100 TB | 400 MB/s | up to 1,200 MB/s | LTO-10 only (no backward compatibility) | 2025 |
| LTO-9 | 18 TB | 45 TB | 400 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | Reads & writes LTO-8 | 2021 |
| LTO-8 | 12 TB | 30 TB | 360 MB/s | 900 MB/s | Reads & writes LTO-7 (incl. LTO-7 Type M) | 2017 |
| LTO-7 | 6 TB | 15 TB | 300 MB/s | 750 MB/s | R/W LTO-6, reads LTO-5 | 2015 |
Compressed figures assume 2.5:1 for LTO-6 onwards and 2:1 for LTO-1 to LTO-5. LTO-10 compressed speed up to 1,200 MB/s on 32Gb Fibre Channel drives.
Independent LTO specialists since 1994
We are not tied to any one manufacturer, so we recommend what's right for your data — not what we have to shift.
Free, no-obligation advice
Talk to an LTO specialist about generations, sizing, compatibility and software.
Same-day quotes
Quotes returned the same working day for media, drives, autoloaders and libraries.
UK next-day delivery
Next-working-day delivery on in-stock media to UK mainland, with worldwide shipping.
Any quantity
From a single 5-pack to thousands of cartridges, with pre-printed barcode labels on 20+.
Trade-ins & disposal
Trade up from older generations and securely dispose of retired tapes.
Software & support
Backup, archive and LTFS software, support renewals, drive and slot licences.
LTO tape questions, answered
What are LTO tapes?
LTO (Linear Tape-Open) Ultrium tapes are half-inch magnetic tape cartridges built to an open standard governed by the LTO Program (HPE, IBM and Quantum). Any LTO-certified cartridge works in any LTO drive of a compatible generation, whichever brand made it. Each new generation adds capacity and speed — the latest, LTO-10, stores 30 TB native (40 TB on the new LTO-10 40 TB cartridge).
Which LTO tape generation should I buy?
Buy the generation that matches your drive. For a new installation, LTO-9 is the best-value choice where you also need to read existing LTO-8 tapes; choose LTO-10 for the highest capacity per cartridge and lowest cost per terabyte at scale, bearing in mind that LTO-10 drives cannot read older tapes.
Can I mix tape brands in the same drive or library?
Yes. HPE, IBM, Quantum, Fujifilm and Sony LTO cartridges of the same generation are fully interchangeable because they are made to the same LTO specification. Most organisations standardise on one brand per library purely for easier stock control and barcode labelling.
What does compressed capacity mean?
LTO drives compress data in hardware as it is written. Quoted compressed figures assume 2.5:1 (LTO-6 onwards). Text, databases and logs often compress well; video, images and already-encrypted data barely compress, so size those jobs on native capacity.
How long do LTO tapes last?
LTO media is rated for up to 30 years of archive life when stored at 16–25 °C and 20–50% relative humidity. In practice the limiting factor is having a drive that can read the cartridge, so plan to migrate data every few generations.
Do you supply barcode labels?
Yes. We can supply LTO cartridges with pre-printed barcode labels in your chosen sequence — ideal for tape libraries and autoloaders. Pre-labelled media is available on orders of 20 cartridges or more.
Do you deliver outside the UK?
Yes. We offer next-working-day delivery to UK mainland addresses on in-stock media and ship worldwide. Ask for a quote with your delivery postcode or country and we will confirm lead time.
Need LTO tapes or a tape library quote?
Tell us what you need and an LTO specialist will come back the same working day. Or call us on 01256 331614.