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ToolCCTV storage calculator
Estimate the hard disk space you need for the days of footage you want to keep. Change the inputs and the result updates instantly.
- Bitrate used per camera
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- Per camera per day
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- All cameras per day
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Includes 10% headroom. Real bitrate varies with scene activity, frame rate and camera settings; we confirm on site.
Assumptions
Default bitrates are typical main-stream values at around 20 to 25 frames per second: 2 MP at 2 Mbps (H.265) or 4 Mbps (H.264); 4 MP at 3 or 6; 5 MP at 3.5 or 7; 8 MP at 6 or 12. Motion-based recording is approximated as 60% of continuous for a busy site and 35% for a quiet one. Enter your own bitrate if you know it from the camera settings.
Disk sizes are decimal terabytes, as printed on the box. Premises covered by the Karnataka Public Safety Act are expected to keep 30 days.
Questions we get asked
How much storage does a 4-camera system need for 30 days?
With 4 MP cameras on H.265 recording continuously, roughly 4 TB. Motion-based recording or lower resolution needs less.
Does H.265 really halve storage?
Typically it needs around half the bitrate of H.264 for similar quality, though the saving varies with the scene.
Tell us what you need to secure
An engineer visits, not a salesperson. You get a written assessment, an itemised BOQ with brand, model, quantity and rate, and an honest list of what you do not need.