Sizing tool

CCTV / NVR storage calculator

Estimate surveillance storage and NVR size from cameras, resolution, codec, frame rate and retention. This is a planning estimate, not a certified CCTV design or a coverage/lighting survey.

standard

Plan for about 12 TB of surveillance storage

8 cameras at 4 MP (1440p), H265, continuous recording for 30 days ≈ 8.6 TB raw, 12 TB recommended with headroom.

12 TBrecommended raw

10.3 TBusable need

26.4 Mbpsaggregate ingest

How this is worked out

Per-camera stream: ~3.3 Mbps (4 MP (1440p), H265, Standard (~15 fps)).
Aggregate ingest: ~26.4 Mbps — confirm the NVR/recorder rated bandwidth covers it.
NVR size: at least a 8-channel recorder; 8 camera licences (per-channel licensing varies by brand).
Continuous recording assumed (24/7) — switching to motion can cut storage but depends on real scene activity.

Before you commit

Australian privacy: workplace CCTV is regulated — check OAIC workplace-surveillance guidance, signage and any state surveillance-device laws before recording.
This is a storage estimate, not a certified CCTV/security design or a lighting/coverage survey.
Night IR, high-motion scenes and higher real FPS push bitrate above the planning average — size up if in doubt.
New camera cabling should be run by a registered cabler where the ACMA cabling rules apply.

Assumptions

Storage uses decimal TB (1 TB = 1,000 GB), matching drive labels.
Per-camera bitrate is a conservative VBR average for the chosen resolution/codec/FPS, not peak.
H.265 is modelled at ~45% saving vs H.264; real saving depends on the camera encoder.
Headroom of 20% is added before recommending drive capacity.
No RAID redundancy included — a drive failure would lose footage; size up if you add parity/mirroring.
CALL/unknown supplier availability is excluded from browse links and never counted as in stock.

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