Drone Video Storage Calculator
Calculate SD card storage needed for drone footage based on resolution, bitrate, and total flight time.
Compare 1080p, 2.7K, and 4K requirements.
How Video File Size Is Calculated
Video is a stream of compressed frames. The bitrate (in Megabits per second) determines how much data is written per second of footage. Higher bitrates mean better quality but larger files.
File size (GB) = bitrate (Mbps) x duration (seconds) / 8 / 1000
A 100 Mbps stream running for 1 minute produces: 100 x 60 / 8 / 1000 = 0.75 GB.
Typical Drone Bitrates
Consumer drones like the DJI Mini series top out at 50 to 100 Mbps. The DJI Air series reaches 150 Mbps. The Mavic 3 and professional drones (Inspire, M series) can record at 200 Mbps or more in their highest quality modes. This calculator uses typical bitrates for common quality settings; check your drone manual for the exact rate.
H.265 vs H.264
H.265 (HEVC) is roughly 40% more efficient than H.264 at the same visual quality. At the same stated bitrate, both produce the same file size, but H.265 footage at a lower bitrate can match the visual quality of H.264 at a higher bitrate. If your drone supports H.265, you can often reduce bitrate while maintaining quality, saving significant storage.
Practical SD Card Sizing
Always carry more capacity than your calculated minimum. Footage from a second take, test shots, and burst photos all consume space. A common rule is to bring twice the calculated minimum. A 256 GB V60 or V90 rated card is sufficient for most day-long shoots at 4K/30fps at standard bitrates.
Write Speed Matters
Not all SD cards can sustain the write speed required by high-bitrate recording. A 100 Mbps video stream requires a card with a sustained write speed of at least 15 MB/s. Look for V30, V60, or V90 ratings, not just the maximum speed printed on the card.