What is CCTV Storage Calculator — HDD Size Estimator?
The CCTV Storage Calculator estimates the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) space (in Terabytes) required to store video surveillance recordings. It bases calculations on camera count, resolution, frame rate (FPS), compression standard (H.264/H.265), and target retention days. Proper storage estimation prevents lost recordings or buying expensive over-sized drives.
How to Use CCTV Storage Calculator — HDD Size Estimator
- Enter the number of CCTV cameras in your surveillance network.
- Select the camera resolution (e.g., 1080p Full HD, 4MP, or 4K Ultra HD).
- Choose the video compression codec (H.265 is highly recommended as it uses 40-50% less storage than legacy H.264).
- Set your desired recording duration or retention period (e.g., keep recordings for 30 days).
- The tool calculates the total required HDD capacity in Gigabytes (GB) and Terabytes (TB).
Common Use Cases
- Security consultants designing CCTV installations for homes, warehouses, or shopping malls.
- IT administrators configuring Network Video Recorders (NVR) and buying surveillance HDDs.
- Business owners verifying that their CCTV installers are proposing appropriate storage sizes.
Pro Tips & Best Practices
- Use motion-detection recording instead of continuous 24/7 recording to reduce your storage requirement by 50-70% in low-traffic areas.
- Always buy dedicated surveillance-grade hard drives (e.g., WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk). Standard desktop hard drives are not built to withstand continuous 24/7 writing and will fail prematurely.