Footage Storage Calculator — ProRes, H.264, H.265 estimates

Planning storage for video shoots and edits can be tricky, especially when different codecs and frame rates change file size dramatically. This footage storage calculator gives you a quick, reliable estimate so you can choose the right memory cards, SSDs, or hard drives before you roll. It is designed to be friendly for non-experts while still useful for filmmakers, editors, and creators who need accurate numbers.

The key idea is simple: video file size depends on bitrate and recording time. Bitrate is the amount of data captured per second, usually shown in Mbps (megabits per second). When you multiply bitrate by duration, you get total data usage. This tool performs that calculation for you and converts the result into GB and TB so you can understand how much storage is required.

Step-by-step

1. Pick a preset codec like ProRes 422, H.264, or H.265, or enter a custom bitrate.
2. Set the total recording duration (hours, minutes, and seconds).
3. Review the total storage estimate and the per-hour usage.
4. Adjust the bitrate or duration to compare different recording options.

The preset table below includes common 4K UHD bitrates, which helps when you need quick numbers for typical workflows. If you are capturing multiple formats at once—such as camera originals and proxy files—run the calculator twice and add the totals together. You can also include audio or metadata overhead by adding a small amount to the bitrate, which is helpful for long-form interviews or multi-track audio recording.

Real-world uses include planning how many 256 GB cards you need for a wedding shoot, estimating storage for a day of documentary footage, or checking whether a laptop SSD can hold a week of travel vlogs. The per-hour readout makes it easy to schedule card swaps and offloads on set, and it is just as useful for 1080p as it is for 4K or higher resolutions.

Because everything runs locally in your browser, there are no uploads or tracking. Once the page is loaded, it works offline, which is perfect for field production or location shoots with limited connectivity. Use it as a quick storage estimator whenever you need to balance quality, recording time, and available drive space.