Independent CCTV planning tool

CCTV Storage, HDD Capacity & Recording-Retention Planner

Plan mixed camera groups using actual or explicitly assumed bitrate, recording schedules, retention and exact NVR HDD limits.

Bitrate controls storage—not megapixels alone. Estimate mode is planning-only. Actual retention changes with scene complexity, compression, motion, audio and analytics.

Step 1

Build the camera plan

NVR and HDD limits

Copy bay count and capacity limits from the exact NVR specification. Values are raw decimal TB.

%
%
bays
TB
TB
days

Step 2

Storage and retention plan

Add camera and NVR details to calculate storage, capacity options and estimated retention.

How the calculation works

Per-camera GB/day = total stream bitrate × recording seconds ÷ 8 ÷ 1000. Each group uses its own quantity and retention. Raw target applies entered reserve and overhead. A single installed-retention day estimate is shown only when all included groups use one retention target; mixed targets must be checked using required versus installed capacity. All TB values are decimal.

Important limits

This planner does not guarantee retention. Resolution, codec, FPS and activity document assumptions but do not secretly change entered bitrate. Verify actual average bitrate and exact NVR/HDD compatibility.

Retention is not backup

Recorder storage is normally overwritten. Evidence-copy storage is separate. RAID or disk redundancy is not independent backup.

Technical references

Use this planner to estimate CCTV recording storage, HDD capacity and retention days from camera count, resolution, bitrate, recording schedule and RAID reserve. Enter values that reflect the intended recording setup so the comparison remains useful.

What to enter

Confirm the planned camera count, resolution, bitrate and recording schedule. Include the intended RAID reserve when applicable. The template controls the actual fields and calculations; this supporting copy does not replace its labels, formulas or result logic.

How to read the estimate

Compare the estimated recording storage, HDD capacity and retention days as planning figures. Reserved capacity reduces usable recording space, while real retention can change with actual stream settings and recording behaviour. The result is not a guaranteed retention period.

Before selecting an HDD

Verify the recorder's supported drive capacity, drive count and storage configuration, and check that the selected HDD is suitable for the intended recording workload. Confirm the final design and retention requirement with a qualified CCTV professional before purchase or installation.