Recording Time Calculator
How many hours of video can your storage hold? Select your drive size, resolution, and codec to find out.
Your Storage
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Recording Time by Codec
| Codec | Per Hour | Max Time |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 (AVC) | 3.41 GB | 12d 12h 36m |
| H.265 (HEVC) | 2.07 GB | 20d 15h 48m |
| VP9 | 2.07 GB | 20d 15h 48m |
| AV1 | 1.73 GB | 24d 15h 53m |
| ProRes 422 | 11.79 GB | 3d 14h 51m |
| ProRes 4444 | 16.82 GB | 2d 12h 53m |
How Recording Time Is Calculated
Recording time is determined by dividing your available storage by the data rate of your video settings. The data rate depends on resolution, frame rate, and codec — higher resolution and frame rate produce more data per second, while efficient codecs like HEVC and AV1 reduce the data rate significantly.
For example, 4K 30fps H.264 generates roughly 15 GB per hour. A 1TB drive therefore holds about 66 hours of footage. Switch to HEVC and that jumps to ~110 hours — a 67% increase in recording time from codec choice alone. Use our Bitrate & Storage Calculator for detailed file size calculations, or the Codec Comparison tool to see how codecs stack up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of 4K video can a 1TB drive hold?
A 1TB drive can hold approximately 66 hours of 4K 30fps video with H.264 codec, or about 110 hours with HEVC. ProRes 422 reduces this to roughly 19 hours.
How long can I record 1080p on a 256GB SD card?
A 256GB SD card can hold approximately 8.5 hours of 1080p 30fps H.264 video, or about 14 hours with HEVC. At 60fps, these numbers are roughly halved.
Which codec gives the longest recording time?
AV1 gives the longest recording time due to its superior compression — roughly 50% more recording time than H.264. HEVC is a close second at about 40% more. ProRes gives the shortest time due to its large file sizes.
Should I choose a larger drive or a more efficient codec?
Both help. Switching from H.264 to HEVC is like getting 40% more storage for free. But if you need maximum quality or compatibility, a larger drive is the safer option. For most creators, HEVC + a 2TB SSD is the sweet spot.