Salesforce Sandbox
Last verified 2026-07-26
Salesforce sandboxes come in four types that trade off data volume and refresh frequency: Developer (config/metadata only, daily refresh), Developer Pro (larger storage), Partial Copy (metadata + sampled data, 5-day refresh) and Full (a complete production replica, ~29-day refresh). Choosing the right type is the core question admins and architects ask.
Deep dive: Salesforce sandbox types explained (Developer vs Pro vs Partial vs Full) →
Key specs
| Free tier | Developer sandbox included with many editions |
| Developer | Config/metadata, 200 MB, daily refresh |
| Developer Pro | Config/metadata, ~1 GB, daily refresh |
| Partial Copy | Metadata + sampled data, 5 GB, 5-day refresh |
| Full | Complete replica, ~29-day refresh |
Strengths
- Isolated copy of production
- Four types for different needs
- Deep tooling ecosystem
Trade-offs
- Full sandbox is premium
- Refresh cycles limit data freshness
- Storage caps by type
Best for: Salesforce admins/architects testing config, code and data before production deploys.
What it is & how it works
A Salesforce sandbox is an isolated copy of a production org, run by Salesforce, that admins and architects use to build and test changes before deploying them live. It comes in four types that trade off data and refresh frequency: Developer holds config and metadata only at 200 MB, Developer Pro gives more storage at about 1 GB, Partial Copy adds a sample of production data at 5 GB, and Full is a complete replica of the production org. You develop against the copy, then deploy the validated changes into production.
Setup, limits & watch-outs
Refresh cycles are the main constraint. Developer and Developer Pro refresh daily, Partial Copy every five days, and Full roughly every 29 days, so a sandbox drifts from production between refreshes. Storage is capped by type, and a Full sandbox is a premium purchase rather than something bundled with most editions. Pick the smallest type that covers the work: Developer for config and code, and Partial Copy or Full only when the test genuinely needs production-scale or production-realistic data.
Head-to-head
Alternatives to Salesforce Sandbox
See the full Salesforce Sandbox alternatives comparison →
Sources: Salesforce sandbox guide ↗ · Sandbox licenses & storage ↗
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