Security Camera Storage Calculator

How to use this calculator

The calculator converts per-camera bitrate to storage, multiplies by cameras, scheduled hours, retention days, and recording duty, adds reserve, and rounds up to a whole two-terabyte drive tier.

When to round up

Round up for variable bitrate, audio, higher frame rates, busy scenes, metadata, RAID or mirrored storage, formatted capacity, exported clips, codec changes, and future cameras; confirm the recorder's drive type, bay, and maximum-capacity support.

When to use this calculator

• Estimating materials before shopping
• Checking project coverage and waste
• Building a simple supply list

Tips for better estimates

• Measure twice and write down the units.
• Check product coverage and package sizes before shopping.
• Add waste for texture, touch-ups, pattern matching, and measurement error.

How this calculator is reviewed

This page is checked for inputs, formulas, examples, assumptions, topic fit, and related links. For this calculator, the review also covers pixels, bitrate, capture interval, file size, frame rate, measured upload speed, workflow overhead, media capacity, and backup margin.

The sample result is covered by automated tests, and the page links to related calculators and, where available, supporting guides so readers can check the assumptions before acting. If a formula, label, or assumption looks off, send the page URL and your inputs through the contact page.

Formula and methodology

The calculator combines the inputs above into a practical planning estimate.

Result details: This page uses the inputs above to show calculated storage need, continuous-recording storage, and estimated active recording in the result area.

Assumptions to check

The key inputs are Security cameras, Bitrate per camera, Scheduled recording per day, Retention period, Motion or recording duty. Confirm codec, resolution, frame rate, variable bitrate, scene activity, audio, recorder overhead, formatted drive capacity, supported bays and drive sizes, redundancy, exported clips, and future camera count.

How this estimate was built

This page converts per-camera bitrate to storage across camera count, active hours, retention days, and recording duty, adds reserve, and rounds up to a practical two-terabyte surveillance-drive tier.

Worked example

Example inputs: Security cameras: 4; Bitrate per camera: 4 Mbps; Scheduled recording per day: 24 hours; Retention period: 30 days; Motion or recording duty: 40 %; Storage reserve: 20 %. With those values, the calculator returns 4 TB drive recommended camera storage. Compare surveillance storage at or above 4 TB drive, subject to NVR bay, drive, codec, and retention limits.

Example scenarios

• Use 4 TB drive recommended camera storage as the first material estimate, then compare it with product coverage and real project conditions.
• Add a project-specific buffer for measurement error, damaged material, odd layouts, or products that only sell in full units.
• Before buying, check whether prep supplies, fasteners, trim pieces, connectors, or tools are also needed.

Quick reference chart

Common planning mistakes

Guessing inputs, skipping a safety margin, and treating a planning estimate as a guaranteed final number.

Cite or embed this calculator

If this calculator helps a blog post, classroom resource, forum answer, seasonal guide, or local planning page, link to the canonical calculator URL so readers can run their own numbers and check the assumptions.

EverydayCalc.org, "Security Camera Storage Calculator", last updated July 9, 2026, https://everydaycalc.org/calculators/security-camera-storage-calculator/