DVR Recording Time Calculator
Estimate how many days your security footage will last.
720p Low (1 Mbps)
720p High (2 Mbps)
1080p Standard (4 Mbps)
1080p High (6 Mbps)
4K / 8MP (8 Mbps)
4K Ultra (12 Mbps)
Estimated Recording Duration:
How to Use the DVR Storage Calculator
Planning a security system requires understanding "Video Retention." This calculator helps you determine how many days of high-definition footage your hard drive can store before it starts overwriting the oldest files.
Key Factors Explained:
- Bitrate: This is the amount of data processed per second. Higher resolution (like 4K) requires a higher bitrate, consuming storage faster.
- Recording Hours: Continuous recording (24 hours) uses significantly more space than motion-triggered recording.
- HDD Capacity: Surveillance-grade hard drives (measured in Terabytes) are designed for 24/7 writing.
Calculation Example:
If you have 4 cameras recording at 1080p (4 Mbps) for 24 hours a day, you will use approximately 164 GB per day. On a 2TB HDD, you will get roughly 12.2 days of recording history.
Pro Tip: Using H.265 compression instead of H.264 can often reduce the required bitrate by 30-50% without losing visual quality, effectively doubling your recording time.