When planning a CCTV surveillance system, one of the most important factors to consider is bandwidth usage. Every camera you add to your network consumes part of your internet or local network’s capacity. If your bandwidth is insufficient, you may experience lag, poor video quality, or even recording failures.

To solve this problem, we have developed a Bandwidth Calculator for CCTV cameras. This tool helps you quickly estimate the total sustained bitrate required for your setup, making it easier to plan your network and storage requirements.

Why Bandwidth Calculation Matters

• Avoid network overload: Too many high-resolution cameras can slow down your internet or LAN.
• Accurate storage planning: Knowing bitrate helps estimate DVR/NVR storage needs.
• Better camera selection: Different resolutions, compressions, and frame rates impact bandwidth usage.
• Smooth remote viewing: Ensures your uplink speed is enough for multiple streams.

How the Bandwidth Calculator Works

The calculator uses three main factors:

1. Resolution – Higher resolution = higher bandwidth.
   • Options now include 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 5MP, 4K, and 12MP.
2. Compression – Modern codecs like H.265 use almost 50% less bandwidth than H.264.
3. Frame Rate (FPS) – More frames per second increases video smoothness, but also requires more bandwidth.

You just enter the number of cameras, choose resolution, compression, and FPS, then hit Calculate.

Example Calculation

Let’s say you have:

• 8 cameras at 1080p (H.265)
• Running at 15 FPS

👉 Each camera uses around 1.75 Mbps.
👉 Total = 14 Mbps sustained bandwidth required.

If you switch to 480p, each camera only needs around 0.5 Mbps in H.265 – saving a lot of bandwidth for large systems.

Benefits of Using the CCTV Bandwidth Calculator

• Quick & easy planning for small or large CCTV projects.
• Prevents under-estimating your internet speed needs.
• Works for DVR, NVR, and IP camera setups.
• Helps compare different resolutions and compression methods.

Final Thoughts

With more cameras moving to high resolutions like 4K and above, CCTV Bandwidth planning has become crucial. Our CCTV Bandwidth Calculator is designed to make this process simple, accurate, and fast. Whether you’re setting up a small shop surveillance system or a large enterprise network, this tool gives you the clarity you need.