List of floppy disk formats
This is a list of different floppy disk formats.
Physical formats
Logical formats
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, many different logical disk formats were used, depending on the hardware platform.| Platform | Size | Density | Sides | Tracks/ side | Sectors/ track | Bytes/ sector | Sectoring | Capacity | rpm | Encoding | Note |
| Acorn | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 10 | 256 | Soft | 100 kB | 300 | FM | - |
| Acorn | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 80 | 10 | 256 | Soft | 200 kB | 300 | FM | - |
| Acorn | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 16 | 256 | Soft | 160 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Acorn | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 16 | 256 | Soft | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Acorn | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | Soft | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Acorn | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | Soft | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | Format L: MOS |
| Acorn | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 5 | 1024 | Soft | 800 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Acorn | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 10 | 1024 | Soft | 1,600 kB | 300 | MFM | Format F: RISC OS 3 and later. Archimedes models before the A5000 require an upgraded floppy drive. |
| Agat | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 21 | 256 | 840 kB | 300 | MFM | ||
| Amstrad CPC/PCW | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 9 | 512 | 180 kB | 300 | MFM | Single head drive, but double-sided floppy discs | |
| Amstrad PCW8512/9512 | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | 720 kB | 300 | MFM | 720 kB mode uses both sides - ensure disc inserted correct way up. | |
| Apple II | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | 13 | 256 | Soft | 113.75 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Apple II | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | 16 | 256 | Soft | 140 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Apple II | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | Variable | 512 | Soft | 400 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | |
| Apple II | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | Variable | 512 | Soft | 800 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | |
| Apple II | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | Soft | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Apple Lisa | 5 inch FileWare | Double | 2 | 46 | Variable | 512 | Soft | 851 kB | 218 - 320 | GCR | |
| Apple Lisa 2/Macintosh XL, Macintosh | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | Variable | 512 | Soft | 400 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | |
| Apple Macintosh | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | Variable | 512 | Soft | 800 kB | 394 - 590 | GCR | |
| Apple Macintosh | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | Soft | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Atari 8-bit | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 18 | 128 | Soft | 90 kB | 288 | FM | |
| Atari 8-bit | 5 inch | Dual | 1 | 40 | 26 | 128 | Soft | 130 kB | 288 | MFM | |
| Atari 8-bit | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 18 | 256 | Soft | 180 kB | 288 | MFM | |
| Atari 8-bit | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 18 | 256 | Soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Atari ST/TT/Falcon | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Atari ST/TT/Falcon | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 720 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Atari ST/TT/Falcon | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | Soft | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Coleco ADAM | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 8 | 512 | soft | 160 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Commodore 64 | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | Variable ZCAV | 256 | Soft | 170 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Commodore 64 | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 35 | Variable ZCAV | 256 | Soft | 340 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Commodore 64 | 5 inch | Quad | 1 | 77 | Variable ZCAV | 256 | Soft | 521 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Commodore 64 | 5 inch | Quad | 2 | 77 | Variable ZCAV | 256 | Soft | 1,042 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Commodore 64 | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 10 | 512 | Soft | 800 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Commodore Amiga | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 11 | 512 | Soft | 440 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Commodore Amiga | 5 inch | Quad | 2 | 80 | 11 | 512 | Soft | 880 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Commodore Amiga | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 11 | 512 | Soft | 880 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| Commodore Amiga | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 19 | 512 | Soft | 1,520 kB | 300 | GCR | |
| Commodore Amiga | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 22 | 512 | Soft | 1,760 kB | 150 | MFM | |
| Commodore 900 | 5 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 13-16 | 512 | Soft | 1,200kB | ? | GCR | https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Commodore/C900/C900%20Floppy%20Specification.pdf |
| IBM 33FD | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 240.5 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 1 | |
| IBM 33FD | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 15 | 256 | 277.5 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 1 | |
| IBM 33FD | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 8 | 512 | 296 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 1 | |
| IBM 43FD | 8 inch | Single | 2 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 481 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 2 | |
| IBM 43FD | 8 inch | Single | 2 | 77 | 15 | 256 | 555 kiB | 360 | FM | Diskette 2 | |
| IBM 53FD | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 26 | 256 | 962 kiB | 360 | MFM | Diskette 2D | |
| IBM 53FD | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 15 | 512 | 1.08 MiB | 360 | MFM | Diskette 2D | |
| IBM 53FD | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1.16 MiB | 360 | MFM | Diskette 2D | |
| DEC RX01 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 250 kB | 360 | FM | ||
| DEC RX02 | 8 inch | Double | 1 | 77 | 26 | 256 | 500 kB | 360 | FM/MFM | ||
| DEC RX50 | 5 inch | Quad | 1 | 80 | 10 | 512 | 400 kB | 300 | MFM | - | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | Soft | 250.25 kB | 360 | FM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 8 inch | Single | 2 | 77 | 26 | 128 | Soft | 500.5 kB | 360 | FM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 8 inch | Double | 1 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | Soft | 616 kB | 360 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | Soft | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 160 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 180 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Quad | 1 | 80 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | Quad | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 5 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 15 | 512 | Soft | 1,200 kB | 360 | MFM | |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | Soft | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | Soft | 720 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | Soft | 1,440 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 21 | 512 | Soft | 1,680 kB | 300 | MFM | DMF |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | High | 2 | 82 | 21 | 512 | Soft | 1,720 kB | 300 | MFM | DMF |
| IBM PC compatibles | 3 inch | Extended | 2 | 80 | 36 | 512 | Soft | 2,880 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| MGT SAM Coupé | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 10 | 512 | 800 kB | 300 | MFM | ||
| NEC PC-98 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 77 | 26 | 128 | 250.25 kB | 360 | FM | ||
| NEC PC-98 | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | ||
| NEC PC-98 | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | 640 kB | 360 | MFM | - | |
| NEC PC-98 | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | 720 kB | 360 | MFM | ||
| NEC PC-98 | 5 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 15 | 512 | 1,200 kB | 360 | MFM | - | |
| NEC PC-98 | 5 inch | High | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | ||
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 8 | 512 | 640 kB | 360 | MFM | - | |
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 9 | 512 | 720 kB | 360 | MFM | - | |
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 15 | 512 | 1,200 kB | 360 | MFM | 3-mode | |
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | High | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | 3-mode | |
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | High | 2 | 80 | 18 | 512 | 1.44 MB | 300 | MFM | - | |
| NEC PC-98 | 3 inch | Triple | 2 | 240 | 38 | 512 | 9,120 kB | 360 | MFM | NEC PC-88 VA3 2TD drive only | |
| Osborne 1 | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 10 | 256 | Soft | 100 kB | 300 | FM | - |
| Osborne 1 | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 5 | 1,024 | Soft | 200 kB | 300 | MFM | - |
| Sega SF-7000 | 3 inch | Single | 2 | 40 | 16 | 256 | 160 kB | ? | ? | Expansion unit for SC-3000 home computer. Capacity is per side. | |
| SHARP X68000 | 5 inch | High | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | ||
| SHARP X68000 | 3 inch | High | 2 | 77 | 8 | 1,024 | 1,232 kB | 360 | MFM | ||
| SHARP CE-1600F, CE-140F | 2 inch | Single | drive: 1, diskette: 2 | 16 | 8 | 512 | 2× 64 kB | 270 | GCR | Internally based on FDU-250 Micro Floppy Disk Drive Unit | |
| Thomson | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 16 | 128 | 80 kB | 300 | FM | Thomson UD90.070 | |
| Thomson | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 16 | 256 | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | Thomson DD90-320 | |
| Thomson | 3 inch | Double | 1 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 320 kB | 300 | MFM | Thomson TO9, Thomson DD09-350 | |
| Thomson | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 640 kB | 300 | MFM | Thomson TO8D, TO9+, Thomson DD90-352 | |
| Victor 9000 / ACT Sirius 1 | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 80 | 11-19 | 512 | 612 kB | 252-417 | GCR | Disks varied sectors/track and disk speed to keep consistent bit density across tracks | |
| Victor 9000 / ACT Sirius 1 | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 11-19 | 512 | 1,196 kB | 252-417 | GCR | Disks varied sectors/track and disk speed to keep consistent bit density across tracks | |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 5 inch | Single | 1 | 35 | 10 | 256 | Soft | 88 kB | 300 | FM | Model 1/3/4 |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 40 | 18 | 256 | Soft | 180 kB | 300 | MFM | Model 1/3/4P |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 40 | 18 | 256 | Soft | 360 kB | 300 | MFM | Model 4D |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 8 inch | Double | 1 | 77 | 26 | 256 | Soft | 500 kB | 300 | MFM | Model 2 |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 3 inch | Single | 1 | 40 | 2 | 1,280 | Soft | 100 kB | 300 | FM | Tandy Portable Disk Drive |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 3 inch | Single | 1 | 80 | 2 | 1,280 | Soft | 200 kB | 300 | FM | Used only in Tandy Portable Disk Drive 2 |
| Tandy TRS-80 | 5 inch | Double | 1 | 35 | 18 | 256 | Soft | 157 kB | 300 | MFM | Color Computer |
| HP 9114A | 3 inch | Double | 2 | 80 | 16 | 256 | 128-710kB | 600 | MFM | Used with HP 110 and Portable Series 40 & 70 | |
| HP 9895A | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 77 | 29 | 256 | 1.18 MB | 360 | MFM | ||
| HP 9130K | 5 inch | Double | 2 | 35 | 16 | 256 | 286 kB | 300 | MFM | ||
| Burroughs MD122 | 8 inch | Double | 2 | 139 | 44 | 256 | Soft | 6.26 MB | 524 | MFM | |
| Memorex 650 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 50 | 8 | 3,500 b | Hard | 1.4 Mb | 375 | FM | |
| Memorex 651 | 8 inch | Single | 1 | 64 | 32 | 1.056 b | Hard | 2.2 Mb | 375 | FM |
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commodore_1571
https://vintagecomputer.ca/files/Commodore/C900/C900%20Floppy%20Specification.pdf