Storage Recording Time Calculator

Calculate how long you can record on any storage device based on quality settings. Perfect for cameras, CCTV systems, voice recorders, and streaming devices.

Storage Capacity

Storage Size:

Video Settings

Resolution:

Codec:

Frame Rate:

Bitrate:

Audio Settings

Format Preset:

Bitrate:

kbps

CCTV Settings

Number of Cameras:

Resolution per Camera:

Frame Rate:

Bitrate per Camera:

Mbps

Custom Bitrate Settings

Bitrate:

Recording Time Results

Reverse Calculator: Find Required Storage

Desired Recording Time:

days hours min

Common Recording Bitrates Reference

Video Recording

Resolution	Codec	Typical Bitrate	Storage per Hour
720p HD	H.264	5 Mbps	2.25 GB
1080p Full HD	H.264	8-12 Mbps	3.6-5.4 GB
1080p Full HD	H.265	4-6 Mbps	1.8-2.7 GB
1440p QHD	H.264	16 Mbps	7.2 GB
4K UHD	H.264	80-100 Mbps	36-45 GB
4K UHD	H.265	40-50 Mbps	18-22.5 GB
4K UHD	ProRes 422	220 Mbps	99 GB
8K UHD	H.265	100-150 Mbps	45-67.5 GB

Audio Recording

Format	Bitrate	Quality	Storage per Hour
MP3	64 kbps	Low (Voice)	28.8 MB
MP3	128 kbps	Standard	57.6 MB
MP3	320 kbps	High Quality	144 MB
AAC	128 kbps	Good	57.6 MB
AAC	256 kbps	Excellent	115.2 MB
WAV (16-bit, 44.1kHz)	1411 kbps	CD Quality	635 MB
WAV (24-bit, 48kHz)	2116 kbps	Studio Quality	952 MB
FLAC	800-1400 kbps	Lossless	360-630 MB

CCTV / Security Camera

Resolution	Frame Rate	Bitrate per Camera	Storage per Day (1 cam)
D1 (720x480)	30 fps	1 Mbps	10.8 GB
720p HD	30 fps	2 Mbps	21.6 GB
1080p Full HD	30 fps	4 Mbps	43.2 GB
4MP (2K)	30 fps	6 Mbps	64.8 GB
4K UHD	30 fps	12 Mbps	129.6 GB

Understanding Codecs and Compression

Video Codecs

H.264 / AVC (Advanced Video Coding)

Most widely supported codec across all devices and platforms
Good balance between quality and file size
Standard for YouTube, streaming services, and most cameras
Moderate processing requirements for encoding/decoding

H.265 / HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)

50% better compression than H.264 at same quality level
Ideal for 4K and higher resolution content
Requires more powerful hardware for encoding/playback
Not universally supported on older devices
May have licensing costs for commercial use

Apple ProRes

Professional intermediate codec for video editing
Very high bitrate (much larger files) but excellent quality
Designed for editing workflow, not final delivery
Multiple variants: Proxy, LT, 422, 422 HQ, 4444
Native support in Apple ecosystem

Audio Codecs

MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III)

Universal compatibility across all devices
Lossy compression - discards inaudible frequencies
128 kbps is standard, 320 kbps is maximum
Good for music distribution and general use

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)

Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate
Standard for iTunes, YouTube, and streaming platforms
More efficient compression algorithm
256 kbps AAC comparable to 320 kbps MP3

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)

Uncompressed audio - no quality loss
Very large file sizes (10-15x larger than MP3)
Used for professional recording and editing
16-bit/44.1kHz is CD quality
24-bit/48kHz or higher for professional work

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

Lossless compression - perfect quality, smaller than WAV
Compresses to about 50-70% of WAV size
Open source and royalty-free
Perfect for archival and audiophile use

How It Works: The Formula

Recording Time (seconds) = (Storage Capacity in bytes × 8) / Bitrate in bps

Explanation:

Storage is measured in bytes (8 bits = 1 byte)
Bitrate is measured in bits per second
Multiply storage by 8 to convert bytes to bits
Divide by bitrate to get recording time in seconds

Example Calculation

128 GB SD card with 1080p H.264 video at 25 Mbps:

Storage: 128 GB = 128,000,000,000 bytes
Storage in bits: 128,000,000,000 × 8 = 1,024,000,000,000 bits
Bitrate: 25 Mbps = 25,000,000 bits per second
Recording time: 1,024,000,000,000 / 25,000,000 = 40,960 seconds
Convert to hours: 40,960 / 3600 = 11.38 hours

Factors Affecting Recording Time

1. Container Format Overhead

Video files include metadata, audio tracks, subtitles, and container overhead. Actual recording time may be 2-5% less than calculated.

2. Variable Bitrate (VBR) vs Constant Bitrate (CBR)

CBR: Maintains constant bitrate - predictable file size
VBR: Adjusts bitrate based on scene complexity - calculations use average bitrate

3. File Size Limits

Some file systems and devices have limits:

FAT32: 4 GB maximum file size (common on SD cards)
exFAT: Supports files larger than 4 GB
Cameras: May split recordings into multiple files at 4 GB

Pro Tip: Always format SD cards and storage in the camera itself rather than on a computer. This ensures optimal file system settings and cluster sizes for recording. For CCTV systems, consider H.265 to double your recording time while maintaining quality.

Storage Planning Best Practices

Plan for 20% extra: Account for container overhead and file system space
Match quality to use case: Don't use 4K if 1080p is sufficient
Consider H.265: Newer codec saves 50% storage for same quality
CCTV motion detection: Can reduce storage needs by 70-90% vs continuous recording
Regular backup: Don't rely on single storage device for important footage
Test before critical shoots: Verify actual recording time with your specific setup

Privacy & Limitations

All calculations run entirely in your browser -- nothing is sent to any server.
Results are estimates based on average bitrates. Actual recording time may vary with VBR encoding, scene complexity, and container overhead.
For critical applications (weddings, events, professional shoots), always test your specific equipment and add 20% buffer.

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Storage Recording Time Calculator FAQ

How do you calculate recording time from storage capacity?

Divide storage capacity (in bits) by the bitrate (bits per second). For example, a 128GB card at 25 Mbps bitrate gives about 11.4 hours. Formula: Time (seconds) = Storage (bytes) x 8 / Bitrate (bits per second).

How much storage does 1 hour of 4K video use?

It depends on the codec and bitrate. H.264 4K at 100 Mbps uses about 45 GB per hour. H.265/HEVC at 50 Mbps uses about 22 GB per hour. ProRes 4K can use 200+ GB per hour. Phone cameras typically use 20-40 GB per hour for 4K.

How long can a 1TB hard drive record CCTV footage?

With a single 1080p camera at 4 Mbps, a 1TB drive records about 23 days continuously. With 4 cameras at the same bitrate, it lasts about 5.7 days. Lowering resolution to 720p at 2 Mbps doubles the recording time.

What bitrate should I use for recording?

For 1080p video: 8-12 Mbps for good quality, 15-25 Mbps for high quality. For 4K: 35-50 Mbps for good quality, 80-100 Mbps for high quality. For audio: 128 kbps for music streaming, 320 kbps for high quality, 1411 kbps for CD quality (WAV/FLAC).