How much storage do I need for a video shoot?

It depends on bitrate and recording time. At 100 Mbps, one hour of recording uses about 45 GB. A typical 8-hour wedding with 3 hours of recording needs about 135 GB. Always bring at least 50% more storage than calculated.

What percentage of a shoot is actual recording?

Event/wedding: 25-50% recording time. Documentary: 50-80%. Interview: 60-90%. Music video: 20-40%. Corporate: 30-50%. The recording percentage helps plan storage without overestimating.

Should I use multiple smaller cards or one large card?

Multiple cards reduce risk — a failed card loses only part of the shoot. For events, switch cards at natural breaks (ceremony, speeches, reception). For interviews and continuous recording, larger cards avoid interruptions.

How do I calculate storage for 4K vs 1080p?

4K at the same quality requires roughly 4x the bitrate of 1080p. A typical 1080p shoot at 28 Mbps uses ~12.5 GB/hour. The same content at 4K might use 100 Mbps = ~45 GB/hour. H.265 codec reduces this by about 30-50%.

PhotoCalcs

Video Storage Calculator — Shoot Storage Planning

Estimate storage needed for a video shoot based on bitrate and recording time.

Bitrate

Shoot Duration

Recording Percentage

% of shoot time recording

How We Calculate This

Recording Time

Recording minutes = shoot hours x 60 x recording %

Storage Needed

GB = bitrate (Mbps) x seconds / 8 / 1024

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.