Among the manufacturers that have done testing, there is consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more; CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM discs should have a life expectancy of 25 years or more.

CD players aren’t as long-lived, though they can deliver 5 to 10 years of service.

Well-cared-for CDs can last many decades — even centuries. But storing a disc in a hot car or playing it often can eventually lead to “CD rot.” “By increasing the relative humidity and temperature, you’re increasing the rate of chemical reaction occurring,” she says.

It is estimated that it will take over 1 million years for a CD to completely decompose in a landfill. More than 5.5 million boxes of software go to landfills and incinerators, plus people throw away millions of music CDs each year.

Another thing to consider is that there are a lot of movies and shows available in disc format, such as those in Blu-Ray. But you’re pretty much guaranteed to find even the most obscure movie on DVD. It’s highly unlikely that DVDs will ever become obsolete for all the reasons mentioned here.

RW discs: RW discs, unlike the other types, can “wear-out.” CD-RW and DVD-RW discs should last for about 1,000 rewrites, and DVD-RAM discs, 100,000 times, before the rewriting capability is lost. The reading functionality of the disc should continue for a limited number of read times after each writing.

A typical DVD disc has an estimated life expectancy of anywhere from 30 to 100 years when properly stored and handled. DVD discs should be stored in their jewel cases in a dry, cool area. Make sure to keep dirt and other foreign objects away from the disc.

In short, no. Optical media like CDs and DVDs does not wear out from repeated use. It can degrade or become damaged, however. CDs and DVDs can degrade over time because their recording layers are made with a dye that is extremely photosensitive; it deteriorates when exposed to UV rays over time.

Since 2008, DVD sales have declined more than 86%. A combination of the Great Recession, a rise in customers buying on-demand and digital copies of films and the launch of streaming services is what has caused DVD sales to plummet.

Data Longevity on CD, DVD Media: How Long Will They Last? In the early ’90s when the first CD-R disc was introduced manufacturers said the media had a data life in excess of 40 years. In the late 90s when the first DVDR discs appeared on the scene producers proclaimed a data life of at least 100 years.

When they began making this claim, DVDs hadn’t been around the required 25 years to test so instead they use a process known as Accelerated Life Testing (ALT). This process exposes discs to extreme levels of heat and humidity that simulate years of storage.

Little information is available for CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs (including audio and video), resulting in an increased level of uncertainty for their life expectancy. Expectations vary from 20 to 100 years for these discs.

According to an article about optical discs on MonstersandCritics.com, Blu-ray discs have shown to last a minimum of 15 years in testing, with data retention of up to 30 years.