Apps & Tools

Recording Storage Calculator

Pick your resolution, frame rate, and codec to see GB per hour, and how many hours fit on your card or drive.

Recording Format

Resolution

Frame Rate

Codec

Bitrates are representative industry approximations at each resolution/frame rate/codec combination — actual values vary by camera and quality setting. Check your camera's spec sheet for exact figures on an important shoot.

Your Card or Drive

Capacity

Unit

Results

Approximate Bitrate—

Storage per Hour—

Storage per Minute—

Recording Time on Your Card—

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Knowledge Base

How to Use This Calculator

Pick the resolution, frame rate, and codec you actually shoot in. These three settings determine your bitrate, and bitrate directly determines file size per unit of time. Enter your card or drive capacity to see how many hours of footage it can realistically hold.

Why Codec Choice Matters So Much

At the same resolution and frame rate, ProRes can use 5-10x the storage of H.265 for similar (not identical) visual quality. H.265's efficiency comes from heavier compression, which costs more processing power to encode and decode but saves enormous amounts of storage and is well suited to delivery and most day-to-day shooting.

Editing Codec vs. Delivery Codec

Heavy compression formats like H.265 are efficient for storage but more demanding to scrub and edit smoothly, which is part of why proxy editing (see the dedicated guide) exists. ProRes and RAW are easier to edit natively but need significantly more storage and, often, faster drives to play back smoothly.

FAQ

Q: Should I always shoot in the most efficient codec to save space?
A: Not necessarily, if you plan to colour grade heavily or need maximum editing flexibility, a higher-quality codec (ProRes, RAW) gives more room to work even though it costs more storage.

Q: Why is my actual file size different from this calculator's estimate?
A: Real-world bitrate varies with scene complexity (a static shot compresses smaller than fast motion) and your specific camera's encoder settings. Treat these numbers as a planning estimate, not an exact guarantee.