How to See Folder Size in Windows 11 (Free Tools & Tips)

Why does Windows not show folder size in File Explorer? I have wondered this since 2006. Explorer shows the size of every file and lets you sort by it, but the Size column stays empty for folders. Back then I used a free SourceForge add-on called Folder Size for Windows to add a folder size column. In 2026, Windows 11 still does not show folder size in Details view, but there are easy built-in ways and free tools to find what is eating your storage.

Quick answer: To see a folder size in Windows 11, right-click the folder and choose Properties, or hover over it to see the size tooltip. To compare many folders at once, use a free disk analyser such as TreeSize Free, WizTree or WinDirStat, or check Settings > System > Storage.

How to see folder size in Windows 11 (built-in)

1. Folder Properties

1. Right-click the folder in File Explorer.
2. Choose Properties.
3. The General tab shows Size and Size on disk, plus the number of files and folders inside.

You can select several folders, right-click and choose Properties to see their combined size.

2. Hover tooltip

Hover the mouse over a folder in File Explorer. If folder tips are enabled, a tooltip shows the folder size (for smaller folders) and some of the files inside.

3. Storage settings

Open Settings > System > Storage. Windows groups space into Apps, Temporary files, Documents, Pictures and more. Click Show more categories for details, and use Cleanup recommendations to free space.

4. PowerShell

For a quick number, open Terminal in the folder and run:

"{0:N2} GB" -f ((Get-ChildItem -Recurse -File -Force | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum / 1GB)

Best free tools to view folder sizes

These tools show all folder sizes side by side, which is what I really wanted in 2006.

• TreeSize Free: adds a folder tree sorted by size, and can be opened from the right-click menu on any folder.
• WizTree: very fast scanning of whole drives, with a list of the largest files and a visual map.
• WinDirStat: a classic open-source disk usage viewer with a colourful treemap.

What happened to Folder Size for Windows?

Folder Size for Windows added a Folder Size column to the Details view in Windows Explorer and calculated the size of each folder including subfolders. It was free under the GNU GPL and worked on Windows 2000 and XP, but it did not work on Vista and later, and the project is no longer developed. File Explorer has changed a lot since then, so a separate disk analyser is the reliable option today.

Tips to free up space once you find big folders

• Empty Downloads and the Recycle Bin regularly.
• Turn on Storage Sense to clean temporary files automatically.
• Move photos and videos to an external drive or cloud storage.
• Uninstall apps and games you no longer use.
• If you still run out of space, consider a bigger SSD. See my guide to upgrading an old desktop PC.

FAQ

Why does Windows not show folder size in File Explorer?

Calculating folder size means scanning every file inside, which can be slow on large drives, so Explorer only shows it in Properties.

Can I add a folder size column in Windows 11?

Not natively. Use a disk analyser like TreeSize Free or WizTree to see all folder sizes at once.

What is the difference between Size and Size on disk?

Size is the actual data size. Size on disk is the space used on the drive, which can be larger because files use whole storage blocks, or smaller if files are compressed.

How do I find the largest files on my PC?

In File Explorer, search for size:gigantic in a drive, or use WizTree to list the biggest files.