Despite significant progress to reduce storage, there are many cases in which users may wish to retain data that significantly exceeds their storage quotas. To accommodate the need for extraordinarily large storage capacity while being sensitive to the overall campus storage and budget constraints, DTS is working on a process to give select user groups the ability to pay for additional storage space for their own personal or shared Google drive.
Continue reading below for more information.
What to Know
- UCLA DTS is pleased to be working on a new purchase offering for select groups that is expected to be available in May 2026.
- Pilot Purchase Term: The initial Google Workspace storage purchase form will be available in the coming weeks during a pilot purchase term – users will not be billed for storage purchases during this pilot period (July 1 – December 31, 2026).
- Official Purchase Form Launch: In the fall 2026, the enrollment period will open for the January 1 – June 30, 2027 storage term. Storage fees will apply for this term and all subsequent terms.
Eligibility
At this time, groups eligible for storage purchases will include:
- User (Personal) Drives
- Faculty
- Research
- Academic Appointees
- Staff
- Registered research shared drives – Registration required
Note: Non-research shared drives are not eligible for individual storage purchases. However, you may be able to work with your department leaders to purchase a high-volume department shared drive once the purchase process is live.
How Google Workspace Purchasing Will Work
To support a seamless transition to this new purchase model, DTS is proactively launching a pilot purchase phase for the term July 2026 – December 2026.
- Once the purchase form is live in May 2026, users eligible to purchase Google Workspace storage will submit an online order via Software Central for their desired storage tier. Users (“subscribers”) will not be charged for this purchase during the pilot term.
- Subscribers will receive a renewal order in fall 2026 for the 6-month term beginning in January 2027. At this time, users will have the opportunity to increase or decrease your storage limit. You will be charged for this storage purchase. New subscribers may also submit new orders for Google Workspace storage.
All UCLA Google Workspace users and shared drives are assigned to a baseline storage limit “tier” based on your affiliation type. This storage limit tier corresponds to your Permanent Baseline Quota.
The storage quota represents the maximum amount of storage space that is available to you in your UCLA Google Workspace account.
By purchasing a storage tier, you are unlocking additional access to use up to the designated storage limit. For example, if your storage tier limit is currently 500GB and you purchase access to the 1TB tier, you will be then able to use up to 1TB of storage space.
Google Workspace storage purchases will be offered in in six (6) month terms: January – June, and July – December.
- Eligible users will submit a storage purchase order during the enrollment periods leading up to the start of each term.
- Please note that orders may only be submitted during the designated purchase / renewal period leading up to the next storage term. The storage tier you purchase cannot be changed until the next purchase / renewal period, and you may not purchase additional storage until the next registration period.
- At the end of the 6-month term, you will receive a notification to renew your purchase. At this time, you may choose to maintain the same storage tier, as well as increase or reduce your storage tier.
- Please estimate the most appropriate amount of storage you may need for the upcoming storage term. As we cannot accommodate mid-cycle increases, we recommend purchasing the upper limit of your storage needs.
PLEASE NOTE: The upcoming storage term 7/1/2026 – 12/31/2026 is a pilot purchase term, and users will not be charged for purchases made using this form during this period.
The Google Workspace storage fees noted below will apply beginning with the 1/1/2027 – 6/30/2027 term.
Google Workspace Storage Fees:
| Eligibility | Storage Tier Amount | Cost (Per 6 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Drives | ||
| Alumni, Retirees, Non-Affiliates | 5GB (Gmail Only) | No Cost |
| Students | 20GB | No Cost |
| Staff, Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees (Not Academic Students) | Staff: 20GB – 500GB Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees: 50GB – 500GB | No Cost |
| Staff, Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees (Not Academic Students) | 1TB | $36 |
| Staff, Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees (Not Academic Students) | 2TB | $108 |
| Staff, Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees (Not Academic Students) | 5TB | $324 |
| Staff, Faculty, Researchers, Academic Appointees (Not Academic Students) | TBD – Custom 5TB+ Storage Tier Per Request Only* | TBD |
| Shared Drives | ||
| Non-Research Shared Drive (Standard) | 20GB | No Cost |
| Registered Research Shared Drive | 20GB – 2TB | No Cost |
| Registered Research Shared Drives, Non-Research Department Shared Drives | 5TB | $222 |
| Registered Research Shared Drives, Non-Research Department Shared Drives | TBD – Custom 5TB+ Storage Tier Per Request Only* | TBD |
*Custom storage requests will be reviewed by the UCLA Google Workspace team. If approved, the Google Workspace team will contact the requester to confirm the storage costs prior to fulfillment.
All Google Workspace Storage purchases will require a UCLA Full Accounting Unit (FAU). Storage purchase will incur a charge starting with the January 2027 term.
Start working with your department leadership now to include Google Workspace storage costs in your 2027 budget plans.
What to Do
Plan for Google Workspace Storage Costs
- Start to work with your department leadership to discuss and plan for the future Google Workspace storage purchase costs in your budget forecasting.
Submit Pilot Purchase Form
- In the coming weeks, the purchase form will be released for the initial pilot storage purchase term. At this time, you will be required to submit the purchase form to secure your desired storage tier, but you will not be billed for this purchase.
Renew your Google Workspace Storage Purchase
- In fall 2026, current subscribers will receive a renewal notification for the 6-month term beginning in January 2027.
- At this time, you will have the opportunity to maintain, increase or decrease your storage tier. You will be charged for any storage purchase made at this time.
- New subscribers may also submit new orders for Google Workspace storage.
Support & Resources
- The Google Workspace Service Adjustments website will be updated with the latest updates, news and support resources for this initiative; bookmark and visit the site regularly to stay up to date.
- Visit the How Am I Affected? page for the most current information on how you are impacted by this change. Also, visit the Tips for Data Hygiene page for instructions on reducing storage usage in compliance with your Permanent Baseline Quotas.
- For any further assistance or questions, please contact help@it.ucla.edu.
