Security cameras · bitrate
IP camera bitrate calculator.
Estimate the Mbps a camera stream will use from its resolution, frame rate and codec.
Inputs
Estimated bitrate
Enter the numbers above.
How to estimate an IP camera bitrate
Bitrate is pixels per frame x frames per second x bits per pixel. The bits-per-pixel value is the part that depends on the codec, the scene and the quality setting, so it is an input you can change. H.265 (HEVC) can compress better than H.264; Wikipedia's article on HEVC describes 25 percent to 50 percent better data compression at the same quality, so the tool lets you set H.265 as a share of the H.264 rate. 0.6 means a 40 percent saving, inside that range.
Worked example. A 4 MP camera is 2560 x 1440 = 3,686,400 pixels. At 15 frames per second and 0.05 bits per pixel per frame, H.264 gives 3,686,400 x 15 x 0.05 = 2.76 Mbps, or 29.9 GB per day. At 0.6 the H.265 stream is 1.66 Mbps, or 17.9 GB per day.
The 0.05 bits per pixel figure is a common rule of thumb for planning, not a published standard. Busy scenes and night-time noise usually push the real rate up; a quiet scene or a low quality setting pulls it down. Read the live bitrate in your camera's web interface when you can.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate camera bitrate from resolution?
Multiply width by height by frames per second by bits per pixel per frame, then divide by one million for Mbps. A 2560 x 1440 stream at 15 fps and 0.05 bits per pixel is 2.76 Mbps.
How much less bandwidth does H.265 use than H.264?
Wikipedia describes HEVC as giving 25 percent to 50 percent better data compression at the same quality. The tool uses an editable 0.6 factor, a 40 percent saving, as its default.
What bits per pixel should I use?
About 0.05 is a common rule of thumb for H.264 planning, not a standard. Raise it for busy scenes or high quality settings and lower it for quiet scenes.
Does frame rate change the bitrate?
Yes. In this model bitrate scales directly with frames per second, so 30 fps is about double 15 fps. Real encoders save a little because frames are similar, so treat it as an upper-side estimate.
Sources
Checked
- Wikipedia, "High Efficiency Video Coding", opened 8 October 2026. 25% to 50% better data compression at the same level of video quality
- Bits per pixel per frame: common rule of thumb, not a published standard.
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Scope
An estimate for planning. Actual bitrate depends on the camera, scene, lighting and encoder settings. Bits per pixel per frame and the H.265 share are planning assumptions, not published standards.