diff --git a/pyiron_base/project/generic.py b/pyiron_base/project/generic.py
index 4589984ce..da7de5b65 100644
--- a/pyiron_base/project/generic.py
+++ b/pyiron_base/project/generic.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 import stat
 from tqdm.auto import tqdm
 import pandas
-import pint
 import math
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -213,36 +212,9 @@ def size(self):
         """
         Get the size of the project
         """
-        size = (
-            sum(
-                [
-                    sum([os.path.getsize(os.path.join(path, f)) for f in files])
-                    for path, dirs, files in os.walk(self.path)
-                ]
-            )
-            * pint.UnitRegistry().byte
-        )
-        return self._size_conversion(size)
+        from pyiron_base.project.size import get_folder_size
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _size_conversion(size: pint.Quantity):
-        sign_prefactor = 1
-        if size < 0:
-            sign_prefactor = -1
-            size *= -1
-        elif size == 0:
-            return size
-
-        prefix_index = math.floor(math.log2(size) / 10) - 1
-        prefix = ["Ki", "Mi", "Gi", "Ti", "Pi"]
-
-        size *= sign_prefactor
-        if prefix_index < 0:
-            return size
-        elif prefix_index < 5:
-            return size.to(f"{prefix[prefix_index]}byte")
-        else:
-            return size.to(f"{prefix[-1]}byte")
+        return get_folder_size(path=self.path)
 
     def copy(self):
         """
diff --git a/pyiron_base/project/size.py b/pyiron_base/project/size.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d049e17c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyiron_base/project/size.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import math
+import os
+import pint
+
+
+def _size_conversion(size: pint.Quantity):
+    sign_prefactor = 1
+    if size < 0:
+        sign_prefactor = -1
+        size *= -1
+    elif size == 0:
+        return size
+
+    prefix_index = math.floor(math.log2(size) / 10) - 1
+    prefix = ["Ki", "Mi", "Gi", "Ti", "Pi"]
+
+    size *= sign_prefactor
+    if prefix_index < 0:
+        return size
+    elif prefix_index < 5:
+        return size.to(f"{prefix[prefix_index]}byte")
+    else:
+        return size.to(f"{prefix[-1]}byte")
+
+
+def get_folder_size(path):
+    size = (
+        sum(
+            [
+                sum([os.path.getsize(os.path.join(path, f)) for f in files])
+                for path, dirs, files in os.walk(path)
+            ]
+        )
+        * pint.UnitRegistry().byte
+    )
+    return _size_conversion(size)
diff --git a/tests/project/test_project.py b/tests/project/test_project.py
index 119b08f96..6f681d6f6 100644
--- a/tests/project/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/project/test_project.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import pint
 import pickle
 from pyiron_base.project.generic import Project
+from pyiron_base.project.size import _size_conversion
 from pyiron_base._tests import (
     PyironTestCase, TestWithProject, TestWithFilledProject, ToyJob
 )
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ def test__size_conversion(self):
         byte = pint.UnitRegistry().byte
         for value in conv_check.keys():
             with self.subTest(value):
-                converted_size = self.project._size_conversion(value * byte)
+                converted_size = _size_conversion(value * byte)
                 self.assertEqual(converted_size.m, conv_check[value][0])
                 self.assertEqual(str(converted_size.u), conv_check[value][1])