A method and apparatus for allocating disc space for recording files, the method including: detecting one or more first sets, each comprising one or more empty sections of the disc that are larger than a predetermined reference value; detecting one or more second sets, each comprising one or more empty sections that are equal to or larger than a size of the data when combined; and allocating, to the data, an optimum set that results in a shortest seek time from a predetermined reference point. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively allocate empty disc space in consideration of both the distances of empty disc sections to a reference point and seek time, thus reducing the time taken to seek target data compared to methods of allocating disc space that only consider the distances of empty disc sections to a reference point.