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Local storage: how many days of video fit?
Updated . What changed: Added the Blink full-drive rule and maker sources.
Local storage means the video stays on a memory card, in the camera, or on a hub in your house. There is no monthly bill. The catch is that space runs out, and then the camera records over the oldest video. Use this to see how far back you could look.
How many days of video fit?
This is an estimate. We assume 1 Mbps for 1080p, 2 Mbps for 2K and 4 Mbps for 4K. Real cameras vary with the scene, the settings and the video format. When storage is full, most cameras record over the oldest video.
Nonstop recording eats a card fast
Only wired cameras record nonstop. Battery cameras sleep until they sense motion. With our assumed bitrates, a 128 GB card holds about 5.9 days of nonstop 2K video. A 512 GB card holds about 23.7 days. Drop to 1080p and 512 GB holds about 47.4 days.
That matters if you come home from a two-week trip and need to look back. The WYZE Cam v4 and Tapo C500 both list card support up to 512 GB. Neither includes a card.
Motion clips last much longer
The eufy SoloCam S220 has 8 GB built in, which sounds tiny. At 30 clips a day of 20 seconds each in 2K, that is about 53 days. On a busy street with 150 clips a day it drops to about 11 days. Motion zones fix most of that.
Motion-only has a cost
- The camera has to wake up first. You can miss the first second or two of an event.
- Clips have a set length. A long event can be split up or cut short.
- If the sensor misses the motion, there is no video at all. Owner feedback on motion detection was mixed for most cameras we read about.
Which card to buy
- Pick a microSD card labeled high endurance or made for security cameras. Nonstop recording wears out normal cards.
- Check the largest size the listing supports before you buy a big one.
- Buy cards sold by Amazon or by the card maker. Fake cards are common from unknown sellers.
- Pull a clip once a month to prove it is still recording.
Not every camera loops
Most card-based cameras record over the oldest video when the card is full. Tapo's support page describes this as Loop Recording. Blink works the other way: its support page says local clips stay until you delete them or the drive is full, and then new recordings stop until you free up space. If you use a Blink Sync Module with a USB drive or card, clear it out on a schedule.