The paper presents forest soil characteristics with respect to potential and actual water storage. The study involved three soil types (Haplic Podzol, Rustic Podzol and Rustic Brown) and three forest sites: dry coniferous forest (dry CF), fresh coniferous forest (fresh CF) and mixed deciduous-coniferous forest (mixed DCF). The potential and actual water storage was calculated for individual genetic horizons and for the 0-40 and 0-100 cm soli layers. The actual storage and potential water retention in the 0-40 and 0-100 cm soil layers as well as the SWC/FWC ratio can be used to relate soil water properties to soil and site types.