Bitrate Calculator

Bitrate & file size

Recording Storage Calculator

Find out how long you can record on a card or drive, or how much storage a multi-camera shoot needs. Keeps some free space so you don’t fill the drive to the brim.

Recording storage

I want to know

Check your camera or recording software; use its maximum for a safe estimate.

Size units

Recording time

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Per hour
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Total bitrate
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Recording time per drive at this bitrate

All cameras together, keeping the free space you chose.

Drive or cardRecording time
32 GB —
64 GB —
128 GB —
256 GB —
512 GB —
1 TB —
2 TB —
4 TB —

Recording time at common bitrates

One camera, full drive as sold (decimal units), no space kept free.

Bitrate256 GB1 TB4 TB
2,500 kbps 9.48 days 37 days 148.1 days
4,500 kbps 5.27 days 20.6 days 82.3 days
6,000 kbps 3.95 days 15.4 days 61.7 days
8,000 kbps 2.96 days 11.6 days 46.3 days
12 Mbps 47.4 hours 7.72 days 30.9 days
20 Mbps 28.4 hours 4.63 days 18.5 days
50 Mbps 11.4 hours 44.4 hours 7.41 days
100 Mbps 5.69 hours 22.2 hours 3.7 days

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of video fit on 1 TB?

It depends on the bitrate: about 222 hours at 10 Mbps, 44 hours at 50 Mbps and 22 hours at 100 Mbps. Formatting and file-system overhead take a little space.

How much storage do I need for a multi-camera shoot?

Multiply one camera’s data per hour by the number of cameras and the hours you’ll record, then add spare space. This calculator does that and suggests a drive size.

Why does my recording use more space than expected?

Quality-based recording modes (CQP, CRF, and many camera codecs) vary the bitrate with the picture, so busy scenes can use much more than the average. Plan with the camera’s maximum bitrate for safety.