How long does CCTV footage get stored? This is a common concern for both homeowners and business owners who want to ensure their property remains protected. The duration largely depends on several factors, including your system’s storage capacity, camera resolution, frame rate, and whether you use a DVR or NVR setup.
Typical Storage Duration:
- In general, CCTV systems store footage based on how much storage is available and how the system is configured.
- A standard DVR or NVR with 1TB of storage typically retains footage for 7 to 30 days, depending on how many cameras are in use and the quality settings.
- High-end systems with larger hard drives can hold footage for 60 to 90+ days.
- If you’re using cloud storage, retention often ranges from 7 to 30 days, depending on your plan.
What Affects How Long CCTV Footage Gets Stored?
To better understand how long your CCTV footage lasts, consider the following key factors:
- Number of Cameras – More cameras generate more data, which fills up storage faster and shortens retention time.
- Resolution – Higher resolutions like 1080p or 4K increase file sizes, which means your storage fills up sooner.
- Frame Rate – Recording at 30 FPS consumes more storage than 15 FPS.
- Compression Format – Choosing modern compression formats like H.265 instead of H.264 helps reduce file size, allowing more footage to be stored.
- Motion Detection – When enabled, this feature records only when movement is detected, which conserves space and extends storage time.
- Storage Type – Local hard drives often store data longer than cloud-based systems with limited plans.
Tips to Maximize Your CCTV Storage Duration
You can significantly extend how long CCTV footage gets stored by adjusting your system strategically. Here are some practical tips:
- Turn on motion-triggered recording to avoid unnecessary footage.
- Use H.265 or H.265+ compression to save storage without losing quality.
- Reduce your resolution or frame rate in less critical areas.
- Upgrade to a larger hard drive, such as 2TB, 4TB, or more, to store more footage.
- Integrate a cloud backup solution for additional storage and off-site security.