What this estimate does and does not do
This calculator estimates storage from bitrate and duration. It is best for constant-bitrate planning and rough project sizing. Actual storage can differ because many cameras use variable bitrate, editing software creates proxies and cache files, exports add more files, and formatted drive capacity is lower than the label. For paid work, plan extra headroom and backups rather than cutting storage close.
Formula used
Video storage is mainly determined by bitrate and duration. The calculator converts megabits per second into gigabytes over time.
total bitrate Mbps = video bitrate Mbps + audio bitrate kbps / 1000
GB per hour = total bitrate Mbps × 3600 / 8000
GB per recording = GB per hour × duration hours × overhead factor
total storage = GB per recording × recordings × (1 + extra backup copies)Worked example
A 50 Mbps recording with 320 kbps audio uses roughly:
(50 + 0.32) × 3600 / 8000 ≈ 22.64 GB per hourA two-hour recording therefore uses about 45 GB before project overhead, cache files, proxies, exports, or backup copies.
Assumptions
- Uses decimal GB, where 1 GB = 1,000 MB.
- Does not include separate proxy workflows unless you model them through overhead percentage.
- Does not include exported deliverables unless they are included in the number of recordings or overhead.
- Real camera bitrates may be variable rather than constant.
Best practice
For client or paid work, keep at least one additional backup copy. For important projects, use a 3-2-1 backup strategy: three copies, on two media types, with one offsite.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert video bitrate into file size?
Multiply bitrate by duration to get total bits, divide by 8 to convert to bytes, then convert to MB or GB. This calculator uses decimal GB for storage planning.
Does audio bitrate matter?
Audio usually adds much less storage than video, but it still counts. A few hundred kbps of audio is small compared with 50 Mbps video, but including it improves accuracy.
Why do actual files differ from the estimate?
Variable bitrate recording, codec efficiency, metadata, proxies, cache files, thumbnails, and exported deliverables can make real project storage differ from the raw bitrate estimate.
How many backups should I plan for?
For important or paid projects, plan at least one extra backup copy. For critical work, use a 3-2-1 backup strategy with one copy offsite.