CCTV Storage Calculator
Work out how much hard drive space your DVR or NVR needs, based on camera count, video quality, recording mode and how many days you want to keep footage. Installer Mode adds exact resolution/codec/fps control and RAID headroom. Everything runs in your browser.
Recording Setup
Frame rate is assumed at 15 fps. Switch to Installer Mode to set resolution, codec and fps exactly, and to add RAID/redundancy headroom.
Installer Mode also adds about 25% extra raw capacity headroom for RAID/redundancy in the "recommended" figure.
Total Storage Needed
Frequently asked questions
How is CCTV storage calculated?
Storage depends on the bitrate of each camera stream (set by resolution, codec and frame rate), how many hours per day the camera actually records (continuous, motion-triggered, or business hours only), and how many days of footage you want to keep. This calculator multiplies bitrate by recording time and retention period across all cameras.
Does H.265 really save storage?
Yes. H.265 (HEVC) typically needs roughly half the bitrate of H.264 for similar visual quality, which roughly halves the storage requirement for the same resolution and frame rate.
What is the RAID / redundancy headroom in Installer Mode?
Installer Mode adds a recommended extra capacity margin so the recorder is not sized right at the edge of the raw calculated requirement, which is a common practice when planning storage for redundancy or unexpected extra activity.