How Many Days of Video Do You Really Need? Storage Planning Made Simple

Quick intro: Retention is a balance of resolution, activity, and budget. Let’s take the mystery out of it.

What actually drives storage

• Resolution & frame rate: 4K/20–30 fps looks great but eats space.

• Bitrate/encoding: H.265 saves 30–50% over H.264 in many scenes.

• Recording mode: Motion/event recording can cut storage by half vs. 24/7 in quiet areas.

• Scene activity: Busy warehouses need more than empty hallways.

A quick, real‑world example

• 8 cameras at 1080p/15 fps, motion‑only, moderate activity ≈ about 10–14 days per 2 TB (varies by brand/scene).

• Bump two critical cameras to 4K and keep others at 1080p to stretch storage without losing key detail.

How to right‑size

• Decide your must‑keep window (e.g., HR/insurance wants 14 days).

• Keep entrances/points‑of‑sale at higher quality; park lots and corridors can be lighter.

• We’ll run a sizing calculator and show you how one setting change affects days of retention.