How Much Storage Do You Need for CCTV?

Choosing the right hard disk for your CCTV is important. Too small and old footage gets overwritten before you need it. Here is a simple way to think about surveillance storage without any confusing maths.

What decides how much storage you need

Three things mainly decide the size of disk you should buy:

• Number of cameras connected to the recorder
• Resolution of each camera (2MP, 4MP, 5MP and so on)
• How many days of footage you want to keep

More cameras, higher resolution and longer retention all need more space.

A rough rule of thumb

For a typical home or small shop with a handful of 2MP cameras recording all day, a 1TB to 2TB disk usually holds a couple of weeks to a month of footage. Larger setups with 4MP or 5MP cameras, or more channels, need 4TB or more. The exact figure depends on whether you record continuously or only on motion.

Continuous vs motion recording

Recording only when motion is detected can save a lot of space, sometimes letting the same disk hold footage for much longer. Continuous recording is safer for busy areas but fills the disk faster. We help you pick the right balance during setup.

Always use a surveillance-grade disk

CCTV runs 24 hours a day, every day. A normal desktop hard disk is not built for this and fails early. Always use a surveillance-rated disk made for non-stop recording. It costs a little more but lasts far longer and protects your footage. If you need footage from many weeks or months ago, a bigger disk is the simplest answer; some recorders also support a second hard disk for extra days, and many newer systems can back up important clips to the cloud or a memory card. Remember that one disk is never a full guarantee, so if certain footage is critical, save a copy off the recorder when you spot it rather than leaving it only on the drive.

Let us size it for you

The simplest approach is to tell us how many cameras you have, their resolution and how many days you want to keep. We will recommend the right disk so you are never caught short. You can browse cameras on our CCTV sales page, and we set up storage as part of every CCTV installation. WhatsApp us on 9888545174 for a free recommendation anywhere in Delhi NCR.