---
title: "How to see folder sizes on a Mac - PaneStack"
description: "How to see the size of every folder on a Mac: Finder's Calculate All Sizes option, and PaneStack's folder sizes and size map that show where your space went."
canonical: https://panestack.app/see-folder-sizes-mac.html
---

# How to see folder sizes on a Mac

Finder's list view shows "--" instead of a size for folders. You can turn sizes on in Finder, but it's slow and has to be done per folder. PaneStack shows every folder's real size by itself, and draws a map of where the space went.

## In Finder

1. Open the folder in list view (⌘2).
2. Choose View › Show View Options (⌘J).
3. Tick **Calculate all sizes**.

Finder works the sizes out each time you open the folder, and the setting applies to that folder unless you click Use as Defaults. For one folder, you can also select it and press ⌘I (Get Info).

## In PaneStack

- **Folder sizes in the list.** List view (⌘2) shows the real size of each folder, worked out in the background and kept up to date as files change. Hard links are counted once, and cloud files aren't downloaded just to measure them.
- **A map of the space.** Press **⌘5** for the size map. Big blocks are big items, tinted by kind. Click a block to go into it, or click a kind under "Space by kind" to pick out all its files.
- **From Start.** "See what's taking space" on the Start screen (⌘0) opens a map of your home folder.
- **Sort by size.** In list view, click the Size column to put the biggest folders first.
- **Alerts.** Folder size alerts tell you when a folder grows past a size you choose.

## Common questions

### Why does Finder show "--" for folder sizes?

Finder doesn't add up folder contents in list view unless you tick Calculate all sizes in View Options, because it can be slow. PaneStack does it in the background, so the list stays quick.

### How do I find what's taking up space on my Mac?

Open a folder in PaneStack and press ⌘5 for the size map, or choose "See what's taking space" on Start.

## Try PaneStack

PaneStack is a Finder alternative for Mac with up to 16 panes and undo for everything. One purchase, from $4.99, with every future version included. [See pricing](https://panestack.app/#pricing) or read [more tips](https://panestack.app/tips.html).