CCTV Storage Calculator
Work out how much hard disk space your hotel CCTV needs from cameras, resolution, codec, frame rate and days of footage to keep.
| Resolution | H.264 Mbps | H.265 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 2MP (1080p) | ||
| 4MP (1440p) | ||
| 5MP | ||
| 8MP (4K) |
How to use the free CCTV Storage Calculator
- Enter your figures in the fields above – use real numbers from your PMS, channel manager or accounts.
- Tap the button to see the result instantly. Change any value to compare scenarios.
- Copy, print or save the result and use it in your daily or monthly review.
This CCTV Storage Calculator runs fully in your browser on mobile or desktop – no sign-up and nothing is uploaded. Free CCTV storage calculator for hotels. Enter cameras, resolution, codec, fps and days to keep to see total TB and a suggested hard disk size.
How much CCTV storage does a hotel need?
Every camera sends a steady stream of video to the NVR or DVR. The size of that stream, the bitrate, decides how quickly the hard disk fills. Hotels usually need to keep footage of lobbies, corridors, parking and back-of-house entries for a set number of days, so the question is simple: how big a disk do you need for that many cameras and days?
Dividing by 8 converts megabits to megabytes and dividing by 1,024 converts megabytes to gigabytes. The tool then adds headroom and suggests the next common surveillance drive size.
What changes the bitrate
- Resolution: a 4MP or 8MP camera produces far more data than a 2MP camera.
- Codec: H.265 normally needs roughly half the bitrate of H.264 for similar picture quality. Smart codecs (H.264+ or H.265+) can reduce it further on quiet scenes.
- Frame rate: 12–15 fps is common for security recording; 25 fps gives smoother video but more data. The tool scales the table bitrate by your fps, which is an approximation.
- Scene and night mode: busy entrances, trees moving in wind and night IR noise all push the real bitrate up.
The default bitrates in the table are typical values, not manufacturer figures. For an accurate result, open the camera's stream settings in your NVR, note the bitrate you have actually set, and enter it in the table.
Practical tips for hotels
- Use surveillance-rated hard disks; desktop drives are not designed to write video around the clock.
- Check how many drive bays your NVR has and the largest disk size it supports before buying.
- Record entrances, cash counters and stores continuously; lower-priority areas can use motion recording to save space.
- Test playback of an old date every month so you know footage is really being kept.
- Record the cameras and NVR in your hotel asset register and add a monthly CCTV check to your maintenance checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of CCTV footage should a hotel keep?
Many hotels keep 30 days, but the right period depends on local police guidance, your licence conditions and insurance requirements. Check what applies in your city and set the days field accordingly.
Is H.265 better than H.264 for hotel CCTV?
H.265 usually needs about half the storage of H.264 for similar quality, so the same disk keeps footage for longer. Your cameras and NVR must both support H.265 for it to work.
Why does my NVR fill faster than the calculator shows?
Real bitrate rises with busy scenes, night IR noise, higher fps or quality settings. Read the actual bitrate from your NVR and enter it in the bitrate table for a closer estimate.
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