fdisk vs parted: Which Linux Disk Partitioning Tool Should You Use?

Introduction

Disk partitioning is a fundamental task in Linux system administration. Whether you are preparing a disk for LVM, setting up a new server, or managing storage on a production system, choosing the right partitioning tool matters.
Two commonly used tools are fdisk and parted. While both are used to manage disk partitions, they are designed for different use cases.
In this article, we’ll compare fdisk vs parted, explain their differences, and help you decide which tool you should use and when.

Prerequisites

This blog is suitable for readers with:

Basic understanding of Linux file systems and disks
Familiarity with terms like partitions, mount points, and block devices
Awareness of MBR and GPT partition table concepts

Comparison: fdisk vs parted

Category	fdisk	parted
Primary Purpose	Traditional, lightweight command-line tool mainly used for interactive disk partitioning	Modern and flexible utility designed for advanced disk layouts and large storage devices
Partition Table Support	Originally built for MBR Newer versions support GPT with some limitations	Provides full support for both MBR and GPT partition tables
Disk Size Handling	Best suited for small to medium-sized disks Not ideal for very large disks	Built for modern storage needs Handles multi-terabyte disks (> 2 TB) reliably
Ease of Use & Learning Curve	Menu-driven, simple, and beginner-friendly Good for quick tasks	More powerful but less forgiving Requires deeper understanding of disk layouts
Online & Advanced Operations	Typically works on unmounted disks Limited advanced features	Supports resizing and modifying partitions Can work on mounted disks in certain cases
Automation & Scripting	Not ideal for automation due to its interactive nature	Script-friendly and widely used in automated server provisioning
LVM Preparation	Can be used, but not commonly preferred in modern workflows	Frequently used when preparing disks for LVM
System Type Compatibility	Common on legacy systems and learning environments	Preferred choice on modern Linux systems
Cloud & Enterprise Usage	Rarely used in cloud or enterprise-scale environments	Well suited for cloud, enterprise, and production environments
Typical Use Cases	Learning Linux disk basics Quick, manual partitioning Small to medium disks Legacy or test systems	Large disks (> 2 TB) GPT based systems Automated installations Cloud and production servers
When to Use This Tool	Working with MBR partitions Disk size below 2 TB Simple and fast partitioning Learning disk management basics Legacy or test environments	Working with GPT partitions Disk size above 2 TB Preparing disks for LVM Scripted or automated partitioning Cloud or production environments

Conclusion: fdisk vs parted

fdisk is best suited for learning Linux disk partitioning and handling small to medium-sized disks, especially on legacy systems using MBR partition tables.
parted is designed for modern Linux environments, offering full GPT support and reliable handling of large disks commonly found in cloud and enterprise setups.
Choosing between fdisk and parted depends on disk size, partition table type, and whether automation or scripting is required.
For DevOps engineers and system administrators, understanding both tools ensures flexibility when managing storage across legacy, modern, and production environments.