Display the Size of All Your Folders in the Mac Finder Window

To display the size of all your folders in the Mac Finder window, follow these straightforward steps. By default, Finder only shows file sizes, leaving folder sizes as dashes. However, you can easily change this setting to enhance your file management experience.

Steps to Show Folder Sizes in Finder

  1. Open Finder: Launch the Finder application on your Mac.
  2. Navigate to Your Desired Folder: Go to the folder where you want to see the sizes of subfolders.
  3. Switch to List View: Ensure you are in List View. You can do this by selecting View from the menu bar and then as List, or by pressing Command-2.
  4. Access View Options:
  • Click on View in the menu bar.
  • Select Show View Options, or simply press Command-J.
  1. Enable Size Calculation:
  • In the View Options panel that appears, look for the checkbox labeled Calculate All Sizes.
  • Check this box to enable size calculations for folders.
  1. Set as Default (Optional): If you want this setting to apply to all similar folders, click on Use as Defaults at the bottom of the View Options panel.
  2. Close the Panel: Once you’ve made your selections, close the View Options panel by clicking the red close button.
  3. Refresh Finder (If Necessary): If folder sizes do not appear immediately, try relaunching Finder or restarting your Mac.

Additional Tips

  • Preview Panel: For a more global solution, consider using the Preview panel. Open a Finder window and select View -> Show Preview (or press Shift-Command-P). The size of the selected folder will be displayed below its name in this panel.
  • Get Info Option: If you only need to check a folder’s size occasionally, you can right-click on a folder and select Get Info (or press Command-I). This will open a separate window showing detailed information about that folder, including its size.
  • Dynamic Inspector Panel: For a more streamlined approach, hold down the Option key while clicking on File in the menu bar; this changes Get Info to Show Inspector. This panel updates dynamically with information about whichever item is currently selected in Finder.
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By following these steps, you can efficiently manage your files and folders by always having access to their sizes directly within Finder, making it easier to keep track of your storage space and organize your data effectively.