Checking space used by directories

[UnixMan]

On all Unix and Linux systems, you can check the space used by all directories below your current directory, with the following command:

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du -k .

(note the dot on the end, with a space between the 'k' and the dot. The dot indicates 'the current directory', but you could put any directory name there.

The output will be, for example:

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9435    ./Pictures/holidays
11021   ./Pictures/family
21253   ./Pictures
1719    ./Documents
11230   ./Data


The values are in Kilobytes, so in other words there are approximately 21MB in Pictures, 1.7MB in Documents, and 11MB in Data. Note how all subdirectories are displayed.

If you just want to see the 'top level' subdirectories, use something like:

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du -k --max-depth=1 .

As always, look at the full help to see what other options may be useful, with:

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du --help