Data Center Cost Calculator

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data center cost calculator
Monthly Operating Cost (OPEX)Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Answer:
Estimated Monthly Cost: $ 0.00
Estimated Annual Cost: $ 0.00
Total Cost of Ownership (3 Years): $ 0.00
document.getElementById('calc_type').onchange = function(){var row = document.getElementById('capex_row');if(this.value === 'tco'){row.style.display = 'table-row-group';} else {row.style.display = 'none';}};function calculateDataCenter(){var racks = parseFloat(document.getElementById('num_racks').value);var pRack = parseFloat(document.getElementById('power_rack').value);var pue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pue').value);var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('kwh_rate').value);var other = parseFloat(document.getElementById('other_monthly').value);var calcType = document.getElementById('calc_type').value;var showSteps = document.getElementById('steps').checked;if(isNaN(racks)||isNaN(pRack)||isNaN(pue)||isNaN(rate)||isNaN(other)){alert('Please enter valid numeric values');return;}var powerKW = racks * pRack * pue;var monthlyKWh = powerKW * 730;var powerCostMonthly = monthlyKWh * rate;var totalMonthly = powerCostMonthly + other;var totalAnnual = totalMonthly * 12;document.getElementById('monthlyVal').innerHTML = totalMonthly.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});document.getElementById('annualVal').innerHTML = totalAnnual.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});if(showSteps){var stepHtml = "1. IT Power: " + (racks*pRack) + " kW
";stepHtml += "2. Total Power (inc. Cooling): " + (racks*pRack) + " * " + pue + " = " + powerKW.toFixed(2) + " kW
";stepHtml += "3. Monthly Energy: " + powerKW.toFixed(2) + " * 730 hours = " + monthlyKWh.toFixed(0) + " kWh
";stepHtml += "4. Monthly Energy Cost: " + monthlyKWh.toFixed(0) + " * $" + rate + " = $" + powerCostMonthly.toFixed(2);document.getElementById('stepDetails').innerHTML = stepHtml;document.getElementById('stepDetails').style.display = 'block';} else {document.getElementById('stepDetails').style.display = 'none';}if(calcType === 'tco'){var capex = parseFloat(document.getElementById('capex').value);var years = parseFloat(document.getElementById('years').value);if(!isNaN(capex) && !isNaN(years)){var tco = capex + (totalAnnual * years);document.getElementById('tcoVal').innerHTML = tco.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});document.getElementById('tcoYearsDisplay').innerHTML = years;document.getElementById('tcoDisplay').style.display = 'block';}} else {document.getElementById('tcoDisplay').style.display = 'none';}}

Calculator Use

The data center cost calculator is a comprehensive tool designed to help IT managers, financial officers, and infrastructure architects estimate the true expenses associated with running a data center facility. Whether you are running a private on-premise room or calculating the costs of a colocation environment, understanding your power consumption and overhead is critical for budgeting.

This tool allows you to switch between calculating simple monthly operating expenses (OPEX) or the more complex Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) which accounts for initial capital investments (CAPEX).

Number of Racks
The total quantity of server racks currently in use or planned for the facility.
Avg Power per Rack (kW)
The average power draw of the IT equipment in each rack. High-density racks might draw 10-15kW, while standard racks typically draw 3-5kW.
PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
A ratio of how much power is used by the computer equipment versus the cooling and other infrastructure. A perfect score is 1.0; most efficient data centers range between 1.2 and 1.6.
Electricity Rate ($/kWh)
Your local utility rate for industrial electricity, typically ranging from $0.08 to $0.20 depending on the region.

How It Works

To accurately use the data center cost calculator, you must understand the relationship between IT load and facility overhead. The calculator uses the following primary formula for monthly energy costs:

Monthly Cost = ((Racks × Power per Rack) × PUE × 730 Hours) × Electricity Rate + Maintenance Fees

  • IT Load: The total energy consumed directly by servers and storage.
  • Overhead (PUE): Energy used for cooling, lighting, and power distribution. If PUE is 1.5, it means for every 1 watt used for IT, 0.5 watts is spent on cooling.
  • 730 Hours: The standard average number of hours in a month (365 days / 12 months * 24 hours).

Calculation Example

Scenario: A mid-sized company operates 5 racks, each drawing an average of 4kW. They are in a facility with a PUE of 1.4 and pay $0.10 per kWh. Monthly maintenance and staff costs total $1,500.

Step-by-step solution:

  1. IT Power: 5 racks × 4kW = 20 kW
  2. Total Facility Power: 20kW × 1.4 PUE = 28 kW
  3. Monthly Usage: 28kW × 730 hours = 20,440 kWh
  4. Energy Cost: 20,440 kWh × $0.10 = $2,044.00
  5. Total Monthly OPEX: $2,044.00 + $1,500.00 = $3,544.00

Common Questions

What is a good PUE for a data center?

According to the Uptime Institute, the global average PUE is around 1.58. Leading hyper-scale data centers (like those run by Google or Microsoft) achieve ratings as low as 1.1 or 1.2. Lowering your PUE is the single most effective way to reduce the results in your data center cost calculator.

Should I include staff salaries in maintenance?

Yes. To get an accurate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), you should include any dedicated IT staff, security personnel, and specialized maintenance contracts (for UPS systems or CRAC units) in the "Maintenance/Staff" field.

How does colocation change the calculation?

In a colocation model, the "Maintenance" field usually represents your monthly rental fee per rack. Often, colocation providers bundle a certain amount of power into the rack fee, but any "overage" or "metered" power should be calculated using the electricity rate inputs.

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