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Video Storage Calculator

Calculate how much disk a video library needs from clip length, bitrate and the number of recordings kept.

About Video Storage Calculator

Bitrate in Mbps times seconds of recording gives megabits, which divided by 8,000 gives gigabytes. Multiplying by device count and retention days gives the array size, and the saving factor accounts for motion-triggered recording or smarter codecs. Retention promises are a storage commitment: undersizing the array silently shortens the window, and a missing video library recording is only discovered when it is needed.

Formula

Video Storage

Storage (GB) = bitrate × 3600 × hours ÷ 8000 × devices × days × (1 − saving)

Number of recording sources
Number of recording devices
Recording bitrate
Encoded bitrate per device

Worked example

With the default values below, Video Storage Calculator returns Storage Required of 1.944. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Number of recording sourcesminimum 0
2
Recording bitrateminimum 0 Mbps
20 Mbps
Recording hours per dayaccepts 0–24 h
2 h
Retention periodaccepts 1–3,650 days
90 days
Saving from motion detection or compressionaccepts 0–100 %
40 %

Results

Storage Required
1.944 TB
Storage Required
1,944.0 GB
Storage per Device per Day
10.80 GB
Storage Consumed per Day
21.60 GB
Aggregate Write Bandwidth
40.00 Mbps

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Video Storage
  3. 3Storage Required= 1.944 TB
  4. 4Storage Required= 1,944.0 GB
  5. 5Storage per Device per Day= 10.80 GB
  6. 6Storage Consumed per Day= 21.60 GB
  7. 7Aggregate Write Bandwidth= 40.00 Mbps

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 5 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Video Storage calculated?

Storage (GB) = bitrate × 3600 × hours ÷ 8000 × devices × days × (1 − saving) Bitrate in Mbps times seconds of recording gives megabits, which divided by 8,000 gives gigabytes. Multiplying by device count and retention days gives the array size, and the saving factor accounts for motion-triggered recording or smarter codecs.

Why does Video Storage matter?

Retention promises are a storage commitment: undersizing the array silently shortens the window, and a missing video library recording is only discovered when it is needed.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 5 inputs: Number of recording sources, Recording bitrate, Recording hours per day, Retention period, Saving from motion detection or compression. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.

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