Video Bitrate & Storage Calculator
Calculate video recording file size and SD card capacity for 4K, 1080p, ProRes, H.264, and H.265 by duration and framerate.
1. Recording Duration
2. Resolution & Codec
At 150.32 Mbps total bitrate for 1h 30m 00s of footage
Storage Media Capacity (Hours & Minutes You Can Record)
Codec Storage Footprint Comparison (Same 1h 30m Duration)
| Codec / Profile | Bitrate | Total Size | Rec. Card Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4K — H.264 High (150 Mbps) (Selected) | 150.32 Mbps | 101.5 GB | V30 (UHS-I) |
| 4K — ProRes 422 HQ | 754.32 Mbps | 509.2 GB | V90 / CFexpress |
| 4K — H.265 / HEVC (100 Mbps) | 100.32 Mbps | 67.7 GB | V30 (UHS-I) |
| 1080p — H.264 (50 Mbps) | 50.32 Mbps | 34.0 GB | Class 10 / V10 |
About this tool
How to use it
- Input planned shoot duration in hours, minutes, and seconds, or choose a quick preset (Interview, Feature, or Event Shoot).
- Select your camera recording resolution and codec preset (such as 4K ProRes 422 HQ, 4K H.265/HEVC, or 1080p).
- Configure recording frame rate (24, 30, 60, or 120 fps) and audio track setup.
- Click Calculate Storage to see gigabytes required, continuous write speed, minimum SD card speed rating, and recording time per memory card.
Why it matters
High-resolution video consumes storage rapidly—a single 4K ProRes shoot can easily fill half a terabyte in an afternoon. Calculating data rates in advance prevents camera buffer overruns, dropped frames, and running out of SD card capacity mid-take during critical productions.
When to use it
Use this calculator during pre-production equipment planning, estimating DIT backup drive purchases for multi-camera video shoots, selecting appropriate SD card speed classes (V30 vs V60 vs V90), or quoting cloud archival costs for clients.
Good to know
Calculations include standard audio bitrates and provide a conservative 7% allowance for filesystem formatting overhead on SD cards and SSDs. Variable bitrate (VBR) files may record slightly under these limits in low-motion scenes.
Common questions
Why does Apple ProRes require so much more storage than H.264 or H.265?
ProRes is an intra-frame editing codec where every single frame is encoded independently as a discrete image, preserving maximum color grade flexibility with minimal CPU load. H.264 and H.265 use temporal inter-frame compression (recording only differences between frames), compressing files 5x to 10x smaller at the expense of heavier editing compute.
What SD card speed class do I need for 4K video?
For standard 4K H.264/H.265 recording up to 150 Mbps, a V30 (UHS-I U3) card providing at least 30 MB/s sustained write speed is sufficient. For high-bitrate All-Intra 4K or ProRes 422, cameras require V60 (60 MB/s), V90 (90 MB/s), or CFexpress Type A/B media to prevent buffer throttling.
Does recording at 60 fps or 120 fps double my file size?
For intra-frame codecs like ProRes, doubling frame rate from 24 fps to 48 fps or 60 fps doubles file size proportionately. In inter-frame codecs (H.264/H.265), camera processors typically increase bit budget by 25% to 80% rather than directly scaling linearly.
How many hours of 4K video can fit on a 128 GB SD card?
At standard 100 Mbps (H.265 mirrorless), a 128 GB card holds approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. At 150 Mbps (H.264 All-I), it holds around 1 hour and 50 minutes. In ProRes 422 HQ (754 Mbps), it fills in under 22 minutes.