Finance category
Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.
Security Camera Storage Cost Calculator
Security camera storage scales with camera count and retention days — plan cost carefully.
Monthly cost
$492
Annual cloud
$5,400
NVR amortization / mo
$42
How the math works
Cloud = cameras × per-cam × resolution × (retention/30). Total = cloud + NVR amortization.
30 × $15 × 1 × 1 = $450 + $3,500 / 84 = $42 → $492/mo total.
How to Use
- Enter camera count.
- Enter retention days.
- Enter resolution factor (1080p/4K).
- Enter cloud monthly per camera.
- Enter local NVR capex.
- Read monthly cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Storage math?
1080p camera streaming 24/7: ~25-45 GB/day depending on codec (H.265 efficient). 4K: 100-200 GB/day. 30-day retention on 1080p: 750-1,350 GB per camera. Cloud storage: $5-30/month per camera (varies by provider). Local NVR (Network Video Recorder): one-time $800-3,000 hardware + hard drives (6-20 TB) $200-800. Hybrid (local primary + cloud backup): common for liability.
Cloud vs local?
Cloud: no on-site hardware, remote access, automatic backup. $5-30/camera/month ongoing. Arlo, Ring, Eufy, Verkada, Rhombus. Local NVR: upfront hardware cost $1-5k, ongoing $0. Axis, Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview. Hybrid: local + cloud backup (best resilience): $3-15/camera/month + initial NVR. Liability/litigation scenarios: need 90-180 day retention, strongly favor cloud.
Retention requirements?
Typical: 14-30 days standard. Security-focused buildings: 60-90 days. High-liability (crime history): 180+ days. Legal retention mandate: some states require residential building video retention 30-90 days if deployed. Higher retention = more storage = cost scales. 4K vs 1080p: 4× storage, 2-3× cost. Balanced: 1080p is standard, 4K for critical points (entries, parking, amenities).
Camera count?
Small multifamily (100 units): 8-16 cameras. Mid-size (200-300 units): 20-40 cameras. Large (400-600 units): 35-75 cameras. Coverage: entries (all), lobby, elevators (each cab), amenity rooms, hallways, parking garage (every 10-15 spaces), exterior corners, package room, trash room, pool deck. Priority areas: high-traffic, high-liability.
Related Calculators
More Finance Calculators
Browse all finance →AI Cost Calculator
Compare token costs across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google AI models. Calculate monthly API spending for GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, and more.
Tip Calculator
Calculate the perfect tip and split the bill between friends. Choose preset percentages or enter a custom tip amount.
Bill Splitter Calculator
Split an uneven restaurant bill by item, divide tax and tip proportionally, and see exactly who owes whom.
Discount Calculator
Calculate sale price, discount amount, stacked discounts, sales tax, and total savings for any markdown.
Gas Mileage Calculator
Calculate MPG or km/L, estimate trip fuel cost, and compare annual fuel expenses between two vehicles.
Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price, reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total, and estimate tax for multiple items on one receipt.
Keep exploring