Estimate video, audio, and image file sizes before you record, encode, or export. Compare codecs and bitrates, then see how much storage you'll need for a whole batch of files.
Enter your details and click Calculate to see results
Unlike a simple unit converter, this file size calculator estimates how big a video, audio, or image file will actually be before you record, encode, or export it — starting from the settings that determine size in the real world: resolution, codec, bitrate, and duration for video and audio, or pixel dimensions and compression format for images. That makes it useful for planning camera storage, choosing an export preset, or budgeting cloud storage before a project even starts.
For video, it starts from a typical H.264 bitrate for your chosen resolution, adjusts for codec efficiency, and multiplies by duration. For audio, it multiplies bitrate by duration. For images, it computes uncompressed size from dimensions and bit depth, then divides by a compression ratio for the target format.
Videographers planning SD card or SSD capacity, podcasters and musicians estimating distribution file sizes, photographers choosing between RAW/PNG/JPEG exports, and developers budgeting cloud storage for user-uploaded media all need this before-you-create size estimate.
Storage and bandwidth are finite and often cost money, so knowing in advance that an hour of 4K H.264 footage needs roughly 15 GB — versus about 7.5 GB in H.265 — changes decisions about SD card size, recording codec, upload bandwidth, and cloud storage tier. The same logic applies to photographers choosing between RAW, PNG, and JPEG exports, or podcasters deciding between 128 kbps and lossless audio for distribution.
How this calculator estimates video, audio, and image size
Dividing bitrate (in bits) by 8 converts to bytes before multiplying by duration — the same bits-to-bytes conversion that applies throughout networking and storage math.
File size scales with pixel count and bitrate. Newer codecs (H.265, AV1) compress the same visual quality into a smaller bitrate than H.264, roughly halving file size at equal quality.
Higher bitrate means better fidelity and bigger files. Lossless formats like FLAC preserve every bit at roughly 2-3× the size of a high-bitrate MP3.
An uncompressed 12MP RGB photo is roughly 34-36 MB raw. PNG compresses losslessly to about half that; JPEG achieves a 10-20× reduction.
From picking a file type to reading a batch storage estimate
Select Video, Audio, or Image depending on what kind of file you're planning to create or export.
For video, pick resolution, codec, and duration. For audio, pick bitrate and duration. For image, enter width, height, bits-per-pixel, and compression format.
Enter how many files you expect to create or store with the same settings, to scale the estimate into a total storage figure.
The calculator applies the appropriate formula for your file type and produces a per-file and total storage estimate.
See how your chosen setting compares to alternatives (other codecs, bitrates, or compression formats) in the bar chart and comparison list.
Using the calculator's own default scenario — 1080p H.265 video, 10 minutes
Suppose you're recording a 10-minute 1080p video using the H.265 codec.
Explanation: Switching from H.264 to H.265 cuts this 10-minute clip's size in half (600 MB → 300 MB) at equivalent visual quality, while AV1 shaves off another 10% (270 MB) — meaningful savings for anyone recording hours of footage on limited SD card or SSD space.
What your estimated size means for storage planning
| Total Storage Needed | What It Generally Means | Recommended Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 GB | Fits comfortably on most SD cards/phones | Proceed without special storage planning |
| 10 – 100 GB | A full recording session or photo shoot | Verify your card/drive has enough free space in advance |
| 100 GB – 1 TB | A multi-day shoot or large media archive | Consider an external drive or cloud upload plan |
| 1 – 10 TB | A substantial media library | Plan a NAS or dedicated cloud storage tier |
| Over 10 TB | Large-scale production or archive | Budget enterprise storage and check the Cloud Storage Cost Calculator |
If your estimate seems too large: try a more efficient codec (H.265 or AV1 for video) or a lower bitrate/compression setting, then re-check whether quality is still acceptable.
If you need an exact figure for critical planning: test-encode a short sample at your intended settings and scale that real result, rather than relying solely on this estimate.
These are typical industry estimates. Actual size varies with content complexity and specific encoder settings.
This calculator provides planning estimates using typical industry bitrates and compression ratios. Always test-encode a sample for critical storage decisions.
Where estimating file size before creation genuinely helps
Estimate storage needs for a shoot before choosing an SD card or SSD size.
Estimate episode file sizes to budget a podcast hosting plan's storage limits.
Estimate media asset sizes for an app's download size or storage footprint.
Pair with a bandwidth estimate to project how long a large media upload will take.
Compare RAW, PNG, and JPEG export sizes before choosing a delivery format.
Estimate storage needs for long gameplay or tutorial recording sessions.
Compare lossy vs lossless audio export sizes for a music release.
Project long-term storage needs for a growing video or photo archive.
Use it in a course to make the bitrate-to-size relationship concrete for students.
Estimate storage cost implications for a company's video training library.
Estimate how much storage a recorded live stream will consume.
Re-estimate storage needs after switching to a more efficient codec.
What this file size calculator does well, and where it can't replace a real test-encode
Typical bitrates this calculator uses (Mbps)
| Resolution | H.264 | H.265 | AV1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 480p (SD) | 2.5 Mbps | 1.25 Mbps | 1.13 Mbps |
| 720p (HD) | 5 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps | 2.25 Mbps |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 8 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 3.6 Mbps |
| 1440p (2K/QHD) | 16 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 7.2 Mbps |
| 4K (2160p) | 35 Mbps | 17.5 Mbps | 15.75 Mbps |
| 8K (4320p) | 100 Mbps | 50 Mbps | 45 Mbps |
Summary: This file size calculator gives you an instant, free estimate of video, audio, and image file sizes before you record, encode, or export — helping you plan storage and choose the right codec or compression format. Pair it with the Storage Converter and Compression Ratio Calculator for a complete file-size toolkit.
Common questions about file size calculator estimates
Official standards documentation to complement this calculator
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