CCTV Project
Sum the bandwidth (Mbps) and storage (TB) of a project with several cameras of different profiles, to size the NVR and the uplink. Add a row per group of cameras. These are estimates using a typical VBR bitrate. 100% in your browser.
Camera profiles
Each row is a group of identical cameras. Set the count, resolution, FPS, codec, activity, recording hours per day and retention days.
Per-profile breakdown
| Profile | Cams | Bitrate/cam | Row Mbps | Row TB |
|---|
How it is calculated · bitrate, storage and uplink
1. Base bitrate (Mbps) at H.264 / 15 fps / medium activity:
1MP=2, 2MP=4, 4MP=8, 5MP=10, 8MP=16.
2. Per row: bitrate/cam = base × (fps/15) × codec × activity.
Codec: H.264=1.0, H.265=0.5, H.265+=0.35.
Activity: low=0.6, medium=1.0, high=1.4.
3. GB/cam/day = bitrate(Mbps) × 3600 × hours / 8 / 1000 ·
row TB = GB/cam/day × cameras × retention / 1000 ·
row Mbps = bitrate/cam × cameras.
4. Project totals = sum of all rows:
total TB (NVR capacity) and total Mbps (required uplink).
5. These are estimates: real bitrate is VBR and depends on the scene, lighting, manufacturer and encoder settings. Size with headroom.
Runs locally in your browser · no sign-up · nothing leaves your browser.
How it works
The planner totals the bandwidth and storage of a complete CCTV project working with profiles: each row groups identical cameras with their quantity, resolution (1 to 8 MP), FPS, codec, activity level, recording hours per day and retention days. Per row it applies the same bitrate model as the storage calculator: bitrate/cam = base × (fps/15) × codec × activity, with H.264 = 1.0, H.265 = 0.5 and H.265+ = 0.35.
From each profile bitrate it derives the row Mbps (bitrate × cameras) and the row TB (GB/cam/day × cameras × retention / 1000), then sums everything into the two numbers that size the project: the NVR capacity in TB and the required uplink in Mbps. These are VBR estimates: real bitrate depends on the scene and the encoder, so leave headroom.
Example: a project with entrances, perimeter and parking lot
- Entrances: 4 × 4 MP H.265+ at 15 fps →
8 × 0.35 = 2.8 Mbpsper camera: 11.2 Mbps and 3.6 TB over 30 days. - Perimeter: 8 × 2 MP H.265 at 12 fps, high activity →
4 × 0.8 × 0.5 × 1.4 = 2.24 Mbps: 17.9 Mbps and 5.8 TB over 30 days. - Parking: 2 × 8 MP H.265 at 20 fps →
16 × 1.33 × 0.5 ≈ 10.7 Mbps: 21.3 Mbps and 3.5 TB over 15 days. - Totals: 14 cameras, ≈50 Mbps of uplink and ≈12.9 TB → an NVR with 2 × 8 TB drives and a Gigabit port has plenty of margin.