CCTV Storage Calculator
This CCTV storage space calculator will help you know how much storage space you require depending on your inputs. You are asked to give this tool the total cameras, resolution, FPS, compression, recording hours per day, movement, etc.
If you don’t know these inputs, you can ask for your CCTV supplier or dealer. However, you can estimate your requirements with the things that you know like the number of cameras, movement type, or the resolution.
I hope it will help you know the total storage needs for any type of CCTV installation. However, we also have a simple video storage space calculator.
CCTV Storage Calculator Formula (Simple)
Here is a simple formula to calculate the CCTV storage requirement. Please note that the tool uses a different formula but this one is a simple formula that everybody can use.
Total Storage (GB) = Number of Cameras × GB per Hour × Hours Recorded per Day × Retention Days
What do the formula inputs mean?
1. Number of Cameras
2. GB per hour
| Camera Resolution | Continuous Recording | Motion-Activated* |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p (2MP) | 0.25 GB/hour | 0.1 GB/hour |
| 4MP | 0.5 GB/hour | 0.2 GB/hour |
| 4K (8MP) | 1.0 GB/hour | 0.4 GB/hour |
3. Calculate Daily Storage per Camera:
GB per Hour × Hours Recorded per Day
4. Total Storage Needed (Retention Days):
Daily Storage per Camera × Number of Cameras × Retention Days
Example Calculations
Scenario 1:
- 4 x 1080p cameras
- 24/7 recording (continuous)
- 30-day retention
Total Storage = 4 cameras × 0.25 GB/hour × 24 hours × 30 days = **720 GB**
Scenario 2:
- 8 x 4K cameras
- Motion-activated (12 hours/day average)
- 14-day retention
Total Storage = 8 cameras × 0.4 GB/hour × 12 hours × 14 days = **537.6 GB**