Disclosed herein is a data estimation technique for a data intake and query system. The system receives user inputs indicative that a first data source is to be the subject of a storage related estimate. The system receives a first plurality of events generated by the first data source. The system indexes only a sample of the received first plurality of events, based on a sampling criterion, where the sample is fewer than all of the first plurality of events. The system generates the storage related estimate based on at least some of the first plurality of events, and causes an indication of the estimate to be output to a user.