NVR Storage Calculator
Estimate surveillance storage from camera count, configured average bitrate, recording hours and retention period.
NVR Storage Calculator
Estimate usable storage required from camera count, bitrate and retention.
The bitrate matters more than the resolution label
Two cameras both labeled 4K can consume very different storage if their bitrate, frame rate, codec and scene complexity are different. When possible, use the actual configured or observed average bitrate instead of guessing from resolution alone.
Storage calculation
At a high level, storage is bitrate multiplied by recording time and camera count. The calculator converts that data volume into terabytes and adds your selected overhead allowance.
Plan operational reserve
Avoid sizing an NVR to exactly the calculated requirement. File-system overhead, metadata, firmware changes, motion settings, higher-than-expected scene complexity and future cameras all consume reserve.
Example
Sixteen cameras averaging 4 Mbps continuously for 30 days produce a very different requirement from the same cameras recording only on motion. Continuous recording is the more conservative planning assumption when motion behavior is unknown.
Tip: use manufacturer drive-compatibility guidance and surveillance-rated drives appropriate for the recorder and workload.
Frequently asked questions
Should I enter maximum or average bitrate?
Use the configured average bitrate for realistic storage planning; use a higher value when you need conservative sizing.
Does motion recording reduce storage?
Usually, but the savings depend on how much motion the cameras see and how the recorder encodes non-motion periods.
What happens when storage fills?
Most NVRs overwrite the oldest recordings, but confirm the retention/overwrite behavior for your specific recorder.