lvcreate Command in Linux: Syntax, Options & Logical Volume Examples

Deepak Prasad
Tested on Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin)
Package lvm2
lvm2
Applies to Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, CentOS Stream, Fedora, Arch Linux, SUSE, openSUSE, Alpine
Privilege sudo or root
Man page lvcreate(8)
Scope lvcreate allocates logical volumes from free extents in a volume group. Create linear volumes, snapshots, and size-by-percentage LVs before you mkfs and mount.
Related guides vgcreate command cheat sheet
LVM snapshot backup tutorial
lvchange
lvdisplay
Linux commands

lvcreate — quick reference

Linear logical volumes

The default LV type — one contiguous or scattered segment in the VG.

When to use Command
Create a named LV with absolute size sudo lvcreate -L 100M -n mylv myvg
Same with long options sudo lvcreate --size 100M --name mylv myvg
Size as percentage of total VG space sudo lvcreate -l 50%VG -n mylv myvg
Use all remaining free extents sudo lvcreate -l 100%FREE -n mylv myvg
Use a fraction of remaining free space sudo lvcreate -l 25%FREE -n mylv myvg
Pin initial extents to specific PVs sudo lvcreate -L 64M -n mylv myvg /dev/sdX1

Snapshots

Point-in-time copy-on-write view of an origin LV — common for backups.

When to use Command
Snapshot LV with fixed size sudo lvcreate -s -L 32M -n snap myvg/origin
Snapshot with long options sudo lvcreate --snapshot -L 32M --name snap myvg/origin

Striped volumes (multi-PV VG)

Requires at least as many PVs as stripes.

When to use Command
Striped LV (example: 2 stripes) sudo lvcreate -i 2 -I 64 -L 64M -n strip myvg
Set stripe size in kilobytes sudo lvcreate --stripes 2 --stripesize 64 -L 64M -n strip myvg

Help and version

When to use Command
Show built-in usage lvcreate --help
List LVs after creation sudo lvs myvg

lvcreate — command syntax

Linear LV synopsis from lvcreate --help on Ubuntu 25.04 (LVM 2.03.27):

text
lvcreate -L|--size Size[m|UNIT] VG
	[ -n|--name String ]
	[ -l|--extents Number[PERCENT] ]
	[ --type linear ] (implied)
	[ PV ... ]

lvcreate -s|--snapshot -L|--size Size[m|UNIT] -n|--name String VG/LV

lvcreate consumes free extents in the VG and registers /dev/VG/LV (and /dev/mapper/VG-LV). Needs sudo. Advanced types (--type raid5, thin pools, caches) need extra PVs or packages — see the man page; this cheat sheet focuses on everyday linear and snapshot flows shown in the examples below.

lvcreate — command examples

Essential Build PV, VG, then a linear LV

The walkthrough builds a practice stack (labvg on a loop device) so you can repeat the steps safely.

bash
fallocate -l 256M /tmp/lvm-lab-a.img
LOOP_A=$(sudo losetup -fP --show /tmp/lvm-lab-a.img)
sudo pvcreate $LOOP_A
sudo vgcreate labvg $LOOP_A
sudo lvcreate -L 64M -n datalv labvg
sudo lvs labvg

Sample output:

output
Logical volume "datalv" created.
  LV     VG    Attr       LSize
  datalv labvg -wi-a----- 64.00m

Format and mount when ready: sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/labvg/datalv.

Essential Remove lab LVs and VG
bash
sudo lvremove -f labvg
sudo vgremove -f labvg
sudo pvremove -f $LOOP_A $LOOP_B
sudo losetup -d $LOOP_A $LOOP_B 2>/dev/null
rm -f /tmp/lvm-lab-*.img
Common Size an LV as a percentage of the VG

-l 20%VG takes twenty percent of the VG's total extent count — not twenty percent of free space.

bash
sudo lvcreate -l 20%VG -n pctlv labvg
sudo lvs -o lv_name,lv_size,vg_name labvg

Sample output:

output
Logical volume "pctlv" created.
  LV     LSize  VG
  datalv 64.00m labvg
  pctlv  48.00m labvg

On a 252 MiB lab VG, 20% is 48 MiB after extent rounding.

Common Use remaining free extents with 100%FREE

Handy for "use whatever is left" after other LVs exist.

bash
sudo lvcreate -l 100%FREE -n freelv labvg
sudo vgs -o vg_name,vg_free labvg

Sample output:

output
Logical volume "freelv" created.
  VG    VFree
  labvg 0

All free extents are now assigned to freelv.

Common Create a snapshot of an origin LV

Snapshots need extra space in the VG for changed blocks. Size the snapshot LV large enough for your write rate during the backup window.

bash
sudo lvcreate -s -L 16M -n snaplv labvg/datalv
sudo lvs labvg

Sample output:

output
Logical volume "snaplv" created.
  LV     VG    Attr       LSize  Origin Data%
  datalv labvg owi-a-s--- 64.00m
  snaplv labvg swi-a-s--- 16.00m datalv 0.00

Origin shows datalv; Data% grows as the origin changes.

Common Non-aligned size rounds up to extent boundary

LVM allocates whole extents (4 MiB by default). Requesting 50 MiB may become 52 MiB.

bash
sudo lvcreate -L 50M -n roundlv labvg
sudo lvs -o lv_name,lv_size labvg/roundlv

Sample output:

output
WARNING: ... rounded up to 52.00 MiB.
  Logical volume "roundlv" created.
  LV      LSize
  roundlv 52.00m

Plan sizes in extent multiples to avoid surprises.

Advanced Striped LV on a two-PV volume group

Striping needs at least -i physical volumes in the VG. Add a second PV first.

bash
fallocate -l 256M /tmp/lvm-lab-b.img
LOOP_B=$(sudo losetup -fP --show /tmp/lvm-lab-b.img)
sudo pvcreate $LOOP_B
sudo vgextend labvg $LOOP_B
sudo lvcreate -i 2 -L 64M -n stripelv labvg
sudo lvs -o lv_name,segtype,stripes labvg/stripelv

Sample output:

output
Logical volume "stripelv" created.
  LV       SegType Stripes
  stripelv striped     2

If -i exceeds PV count, lvcreate errors out.

Advanced Error when the VG is full

When free extents are gone, lvcreate refuses — extend the VG with vgextend or remove LVs.

bash
sudo lvcreate -L 1G -n toobig labvg

Sample output:

output
Volume group "labvg" has insufficient free space (0 extents): 256 required.

Free space with vgs or vgdisplay before creating large LVs.

lvcreate — when to use / when not

Use lvcreate when Use something else when
  • You need a new block device in an existing VG
  • You are creating snapshots for backup (snapshot guide)
  • You want percentage-based sizing (%VG, %FREE)

lvcreate vs lvextend

lvcreate lvextend
Purpose New LV name Grow existing LV
Free space Takes new extents Adds extents to current LV
Filesystem Does not resize FS Often paired with resize2fs

lvcreate — interview corner

How do you create a 10 GiB logical volume named data in myvg?
bash
sudo lvcreate -L 10G -n data myvg

Use -n / --name for the LV name and -L for absolute size. Verify with lvs myvg/data.

A strong answer is:

"lvcreate -L 10G -n data myvg — then mkfs and mount /dev/myvg/data."

What does lvcreate -l 100%FREE do?

It allocates all unassigned extents in the VG to the new LV — useful for consuming leftover space after other LVs are created.

A strong answer is:

"100%FREE creates an LV from every remaining free extent in the volume group."

Why must snapshot LVs be sized?

Snapshots are copy-on-write — they store blocks that change on the origin. If the snapshot fills, it becomes invalid. Size for peak write activity during the snapshot lifetime.

A strong answer is:

"Snapshots need their own space for changed blocks — I size them for expected churn during the backup window."

How many PVs do you need for -i 2 striping?

At least two PVs in the VG. Stripe count cannot exceed PV count.

A strong answer is:

"Stripes need matching PVs — -i 2 requires two PVs in the VG via vgcreate or vgextend."

What device path appears after lvcreate?

/dev/VG/LV and /dev/mapper/VG-LV (hyphenated). Either path works for mkfs and /etc/fstab (UUID preferred).

A strong answer is:

"/dev/myvg/mylv and /dev/mapper/myvg-mylv — I still mount by UUID in fstab."

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
insufficient free space VG full vgs, lvremove unused LVs, or vgextend
Size rounded up with WARNING Not extent-aligned Use multiples of extent size (often 4M)
number of stripes cannot exceed Too few PVs vgextend or lower -i
Snapshot instantly full Snapshot too small Create larger snapshot or reduce origin writes
unknown option for raid/thin flags Feature or deps missing lvcreate --help; install extras or use supported types
Rohan Timalsina

is a technical writer and Linux enthusiast who writes practical guides on Linux commands and system administration. He focuses on simplifying complex topics through clear explanations.

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