Free Planning Tool · Step 2 of 4
Security Camera Storage & Network Calculator
Find out how much recording storage your cameras need and whether your network can carry them. Answer a few plain-English questions — or bring your cameras over from the Site Layout Planner — and get a hard-drive size, a network speed, and a clear “fits” or “too tight” check in about a minute.
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Quick Reference: Storage per Camera
One camera, H.265 compression, 15 frames per second, typical scene. “Motion” assumes cameras record about 25% of the day. No safety buffer included.
| Picture quality | Bitrate | Per day (motion) | Per day (24/7) | 30 days (motion) | 30 days (24/7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 MP | ~2.0 Mbps | 5.3 GB | 21.1 GB | 158 GB | 633 GB |
| 5 MP | ~2.5 Mbps | 6.6 GB | 26.4 GB | 198 GB | 791 GB |
| 4K (8 MP) | ~4.0 Mbps | 10.5 GB | 42.2 GB | 316 GB | 1,266 GB |
What Drives Storage and Bandwidth
Four choices make most of the difference.
Picture Quality
A 4K camera uses about twice the data of a 4 MP camera. Use 4K where you need detail at a distance, not everywhere.
Recording Mode
Motion recording typically uses about a quarter of the storage of 24/7 recording.
Compression
H.265 roughly halves storage compared with older H.264 systems.
Days Kept
Storage grows in a straight line with retention — 60 days needs twice the drive space of 30.
From Estimate to a Working System
The calculator gives you a planning number. Our team turns it into a recorder that won't run out of space: the right network video recorder, RAID storagefor larger systems so one failed drive doesn't erase your footage, PoE switches sized for every camera, and structured cabling or wireless links that leave room to grow. Prefer cloud recording? See cloud video management.
Camera Security Now has designed and installed commercial camera systems since 1998. Every estimate is reviewed by a specialist before you buy anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much storage do I need for security cameras?
It depends on the number of cameras, picture quality, how they record, and how many days you keep. As a reference, one 4 MP camera using H.265 at 15 frames per second uses about 5.3 GB per day with motion recording or about 21.1 GB per day recording 24/7. Eight 4 MP cameras on motion recording for 30 days need roughly 1.5 TB including a 20% safety buffer.
How many days of security camera footage should I keep?
Most businesses keep 30 days, which covers the time it usually takes to notice and report an incident. Banks, cannabis operators, schools, and some government sites may be required to keep 60 to 90 days or more — check with your regulator or insurer.
Does motion recording really save storage?
Yes. Motion recording saves video only when something moves, so a typical camera records about a quarter of the day. Continuous 24/7 recording needs roughly four times as much storage.
How much internet speed do security cameras need?
Cameras record to the recorder over your local network, so most traffic never touches the internet. Internet upload speed matters when people watch live or review video remotely — usually about 1 Mbps per person watching. Cloud-recorded systems are different and need upload speed for every camera.
Can a wireless bridge handle my cameras?
Often, if it's sized correctly. The calculator compares camera traffic with the bridge's real-world speed and flags connections that are tight or over capacity. Each extra wireless hop roughly halves the available speed.
Does H.265 use less storage than H.264?
Yes — H.265 typically cuts storage and bandwidth roughly in half compared with H.264 at the same picture quality, and smart codecs such as H.265+ can save more on quiet scenes. You can change compression under Advanced settings.