How much storage do you need for CCTV?

The honest answer is: it depends on how many cameras you run, the picture quality you choose, and how many days you want to keep before footage is overwritten. Here’s a simple way to think about it before you buy a recorder or hard drive.

What uses space fastest?

Resolution and bitrate matter more than almost anything else. 4K streams eat far more disk than 1080p if everything else is equal. Frames per second also adds data: smooth, high-FPS recording doubles load compared with a lower FPS setting on the same quality profile.

Retention: how many days do you need?

Many businesses aim for 30–90 days on key cameras; homes often settle for 7–30 depending on drive size. Insurance or sector rules may specify a minimum — check your policy or risk assessment.

Use a calculator

Instead of guessing, plug your numbers into our CCTV hard drive calculator — it estimates terabytes from camera count, quality tier, and days to keep.

Need an install?

We size recorders and drives as part of every quote. Get an installation quote for Manchester and the North West, or contact us if you’re unsure what to specify.