Calculate the exact storage capacity required for your video surveillance system. Supports H.264/H.265 compression, multiple resolutions, and custom retention periods.
Approximate storage per camera per day under continuous recording. Actual values depend on scene complexity and motion level.
| Resolution | Codec | Avg Bitrate | Per Camera/Day | Per Camera/Month | 16 Cameras/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2MP 1080p | H.265 | 0.5 Mbps | 6 GB | 180 GB | 2.9 TB |
| 2MP 1080p | H.264 | 1.0 Mbps | 10.8 GB | 324 GB | 5.2 TB |
| 4MP 2K | H.265 | 1.0 Mbps | 10.8 GB | 324 GB | 5.2 TB |
| 4MP 2K | H.264 | 2.0 Mbps | 21.6 GB | 648 GB | 10.4 TB |
| 8MP 4K | H.265 | 2.0 Mbps | 21.6 GB | 648 GB | 10.4 TB |
| 8MP 4K | H.264 | 4.0 Mbps | 43.2 GB | 1.3 TB | 20.7 TB |
| 12MP Ultra | H.265 | 3.0 Mbps | 32.4 GB | 972 GB | 15.6 TB |
H.265 (HEVC) reduces storage requirements by up to 50% compared to H.264 with the same image quality. Always choose H.265-compatible cameras and NVR for new installations.
For low-traffic areas, motion-triggered recording can reduce storage consumption by 50-70%. Combine with continuous recording for critical zones to balance coverage and cost.
Always add 20-30% buffer to your calculated storage. This accounts for higher-than-expected activity, system metadata, and future camera additions without requiring immediate hardware upgrades.
RAID 5 provides a good balance of capacity and redundancy for most installations. RAID 6 is recommended for mission-critical systems where data loss is unacceptable.
Use high-speed SSD for recent footage (7-14 days) and cost-effective HDD or cloud storage for long-term archiving. This optimizes both performance and cost.
Standard commercial: 30 days. Regulated industries (banking, healthcare): 90-365 days. Check local regulations for your specific industry and jurisdiction before finalizing storage capacity.
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