UniFi Protect: how much storage does your video surveillance need?
Plan UniFi Protect storage for a Swiss SME: cameras, bitrate, recording schedules and retention explained with a worked example.
Eight cameras and a large disk are not yet a storage plan. You need to know how much data each camera produces, when recording takes place and how long footage must remain available. Recorder capacity and disk configuration also matter.
Start with each camera’s purpose
List the area each camera should cover and the detail you need to see. An entrance differs from a larger area with changing light. Model selection and positioning therefore matter alongside resolution.
Then specify continuous or event-based recording. Protect supports recording modes and schedules, allowing areas with different patterns of use to be treated differently. Recording modes and schedules
A worked storage example
For a constant bitrate, a first approximation is:
Daily storage = combined bitrate ÷ 8 × 86,400 seconds.
Assume eight cameras averaging 4 Mbit/s each and recording continuously. Combined traffic is 32 Mbit/s, or 4 MB/s. The calculation gives 345.6 GB per day and approximately 2.42 TB for seven days.
The 4 Mbit/s figure is an illustrative assumption, not a guaranteed bitrate for a UniFi model. Seven days is a calculation period, not a recommended retention policy. Units are decimal GB and TB.
Image content, compression and configuration affect actual traffic. Allow capacity for system data and a planning margin, then check real recordings. The calculation is a starting point for sizing, not a substitute for measurement.
Raw capacity differs from usable capacity
Adding the capacities printed on disks does not necessarily give the space available for footage. Disk-failure protection uses part of the capacity. Check the RAID options supported by your recorder and number of drives. Ubiquiti storage protection
Distinguish a failed drive from theft or failure of the entire recorder. Several disks inside one device do not automatically cover those other events. Decide which recordings need separate export or archiving as part of your operating plan.
Check recorder performance separately
More disk space does not raise every recorder limit. Ubiquiti publishes camera-capacity guidance and notes that active users, Viewports and drive condition can affect performance. Assess both storage and camera-processing capacity. Supported camera limits
During acceptance, test normal tasks together: ongoing recording, finding an event, playback and a required export. This checks the intended workflow rather than disk capacity alone.
Set retention deliberately
Storage Manager shows usage and lets you manage retention. Enhanced Retention can keep older footage at reduced quality after a configured period. Once quality has been reduced, it cannot be restored afterwards. Choose this setting according to the detail you genuinely need. Storage and retention
Agree appropriate retention and permitted camera coverage for the specific deployment. The availability of a technical setting does not determine those requirements.
Prepare for the consultation
Bring a camera list with positions, required field of view, recording mode and retention requirements. Add existing PoE ports, recorders and drives. Irontec can then consider the cameras, network, power and recording together.
See our UniFi Protect surveillance service and UNVR product information. Prices shown are indicative CHF figures; equipment and the final quotation depend on the agreed requirements.
Sources and scope
Official Ubiquiti sources linked above were checked on 29 September 2026. The storage calculation uses explicitly stated assumptions and does not prescribe a legal retention period.