CCTV storage calculator
Work out how much hard drive space your cameras need. Enter the camera count, resolution, compression and how long recordings are kept. The calculator suggests a drive set-up and lists recorders from our range with enough channels and bays.
Estimate
15.6 TB
Storage for 16 cameras kept 30 days
- Bitrate per camera
- 3 Mbps
- All cameras together
- 48 Mbps
- Storage per day
- 518 GB
- With 10% spare
- 17.1 TB
- Suggested drives
- 2 x 10 TB
Show the working
- Bitrate per camera 6 Mbps x 0.5 x 25 / 25 = 3 Mbps
- Storage per camera per day 3 Mbps x 0.45 GB per hour x 24 h = 32.4 GB per camera per day
- Total storage 16 x 32.4 GB x 30 days / 1000 = 15.55 TB, plus 10% = 17.11 TB
Estimate only. Actual bitrate varies with scene complexity, night time and camera settings.
Recorders that fit
NVRs for IP cameras
DVRs for HD analog cameras
No recorder in our listed range fits this system. Send the details through the form below and our sales desk will suggest a larger or project-grade solution. See also projects and bulk supply.
Models are checked for channels, drive bays, maximum camera resolution and input rating, where the catalogue lists them. Maximum drive size is not listed for every model, so confirm it on the datasheet.
Model NVR
- Channels
- HDD bays
- Max resolution
- Input rating
Drives
Model SFP
- PoE ports
- PoE budget
- Uplinks
- Port speed
This design needs more than 802.3af ports. The datasheet does not state the standard here, so check it supports 802.3at before ordering.
How the estimate is calculated
Each result follows the steps below, using only the figures in the tables. You can check any result by hand.
-
Bitrate per camera
base bitrate for the resolution x codec factor x (frame rate / 25)
-
Storage per camera per day
bitrate in Mbps x 0.45 GB per hour x recorded hours
One megabit per second recorded for an hour is 0.45 GB. Recorded hours are the hours per day, multiplied by the activity share for motion-based recording.
-
Total storage
cameras x GB per day x days / 1000
Decimal units, as drives are sold: 1 TB is 1000 GB.
-
Drive set-up
total + 10% spare, then the fewest drives of up to 10 TB each
Larger drives are used only when the recorder bays would otherwise run out. Capacities come from common surveillance drive sizes, 1 TB to 24 TB.
| Resolution | H.264 | H.265, 50% of H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 MP | 4 | 2 |
| 3 MP | 5 | 2.5 |
| 4 MP | 6 | 3 |
| 5 MP | 8 | 4 |
| 8 MP | 12 | 6 |
| Frame rate | 10 fps | 15 fps | 20 fps | 25 fps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factor | 40% | 60% | 80% | 100% |
What the estimate cannot know
- These are estimates. Actual bitrate varies with scene complexity, night time and camera settings.
- Night scenes and busy scenes raise the bitrate. Variable bitrate and smart codecs can lower it. Check what the cameras are set to.
- Computers and some recorders show capacity in binary units, so a 10 TB drive appears as about 9.1 TiB. The spare allowance covers this and file system overhead.
- Use drives rated for continuous recording rather than desktop drives.
Products for this system
Ask for a quotation
Press Ask for a quotation in the results panel and your inputs and results are added to the requirement field. Add your contact details and send. Our sales desk will reply with matching recorders and surveillance hard drives, subject to stock.
To talk it through, call +91 94350 11393.