ZoomCam

ZoomCam / Free tools

Video storage calculator

Estimate recording size from bitrate and duration, then see how many minutes can fit in the free space on a phone.

Recording details

Use the bitrate shown by your camera app or choose a reasonable estimate.

Megabits per second. Many phone recordings vary over time.
Minutes in the planned recording.
Free phone storage in decimal gigabytes. Leave a safety margin for the operating system and other apps.

Estimated storage

Recording plan

Planned video size1.5 GB
Storage rate9 GB per hour
Time that fits133 minutes

This estimate includes the entered video bitrate but not a separate allowance for audio or file overhead. Actual variable-bitrate recordings can differ.

Plan phone video storage before recording

Video storage depends mainly on bitrate and duration. Resolution labels such as 1080p or 4K do not determine file size by themselves because two devices can encode the same resolution at very different bitrates.

Bitrate matters more than the label

A 20 Mbps recording uses about 9 GB per hour before small differences from audio and file overhead. Higher frame rates, detailed movement and less efficient codecs may increase the bitrate selected by the phone.

Leave room for real-world variation

  • Keep extra storage available instead of planning to fill the device completely.
  • Check the bitrate or file size of a short sample from the same camera mode.
  • Use the sample to adjust this calculator for the most realistic estimate.

Keep distant moments in frame.

ZoomCam includes mobile photo and video capture for iPhone and Android.