--- title: "How Many Days Does a Hikvision DVR or NVR Record? Disk Size Examples | Qyvea" url: https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-recording-time-days-kenya description: "How many days a Hikvision DVR or NVR records for 1TB, 2TB and bigger disks: how cameras, resolution, H.265+ and motion recording change it, with worked examples." updated: 2026-10-17 --- > Markdown copy of https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-recording-time-days-kenya for AI assistants. Prices and stock change; check the live page. We deliver products across Kenya · same-day dispatch · delivered within 24 hours[CCTV Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv)[Access Control](https://qyvea.co.ke/access-control-systems-kenya)[Biometrics & Attendance](https://qyvea.co.ke/biometrics)[Electric Fencing](https://qyvea.co.ke/electric-fence)[Automatic Gates](https://qyvea.co.ke/automatic-gates)[Fire Alarm Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/fire-alarm-systems)[Security Guards & K9](https://qyvea.co.ke/security-guards)[Solar Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/solar-installation)[Solar & Power Backup](https://qyvea.co.ke/solar-solutions)[Electrical Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/electrical-installation)[Smart Home Automation](https://qyvea.co.ke/smart-home-automation)[Building Management (BMS)](https://qyvea.co.ke/bms)[Networking & Wi-Fi](https://qyvea.co.ke/networking)[IT Support](https://qyvea.co.ke/it-support)[Cyber Security](https://qyvea.co.ke/cybersecurity)[System Integration](https://qyvea.co.ke/system-integration)[Intercom Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom)[PA Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/pa-systems)[POS Systems](https://qyvea.co.ke/pos-systems)[Queue Management](https://qyvea.co.ke/queue-management-systems)[Business Supply (B2B)](https://qyvea.co.ke/business-supply-kenya)[Maintenance & Repairs](https://qyvea.co.ke/maintenance) CCTV · Guide # Hikvision Recording Time: How Many Days Will Your DVR Keep? Work out how many days your Hikvision recorder will keep, and how to make it keep longer. A camera that records nothing useful is the most expensive thing on your wall. Read on: it takes a few minutes and could save you a lot more than that. **In this guide you will see:** - Days = disk size / total data per day. - 4 Mbps continuous is about 42 GB per camera per day. - H.265+ can cut storage needs sharply compared with H.264. Quick answer Recording time depends on hard disk size divided by how much data all cameras record per day. Each camera's daily data depends on its bitrate, which rises with resolution and scene movement and falls with H.265+ compression and motion-only recording. A camera recording continuously at 4 Mbps uses about 42 GB a day. [Photo: Alan J. Hendry / Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/KNt4zd8HPb0) Why this matters now ## Every night without proper recording is a night you cannot prove anything. ### If you wait - A theft or a dispute becomes your word against theirs - You hear about it hours later, if at all - Police and insurers ask what you can show them ### What you get - Every entrance recorded day and night - Playback on your phone within minutes - A visible camera changes how people behave [Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet](/products/hikvision-ds-2cd1023g0e-i-2mp-bullet-network-camera-132 "Hikvision DS-2CD1023G0E-I 2MP Bullet Network Camera")[Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome](/products/dahua-hdcvi-2mp-dome-camera-14357 "Dahua HDCVI 2MP Dome Camera")[Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K](/products/hikvision-ds-7616ni-q2-16ch-4k-nvr-189 "Hikvision DS-7616NI-Q2 16CH 4K NVR") [Get my free quote on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20read%20your%20guide%3A%20Hikvision%20Recording%20Time%3A%20How%20Many%20Days%20Will%20Your%20DVR%20Keep%3F.%20I%20want%20CCTV%20sorted.%20Can%20you%20help%3F)Reply usually within 30 minutes. Free site survey in Nairobi and nearby counties. Real products, live prices, in stock now ## Key takeaways - Days = disk size / total data per day. - 4 Mbps continuous is about 42 GB per camera per day. - H.265+ can cut storage needs sharply compared with H.264. - Motion or AcuSense event recording keeps footage much longer. - Overwrite keeps recording when the disk is full, replacing the oldest footage. ## The quick calculation Bitrate per camera (Mbps)× 10.5 = GB per day× number of camerasDisk size ÷ total = days The 10.5 comes from 86,400 seconds in a day divided by 8 bits per byte and 1,024 MB per GB. Check each camera's bitrate in the recorder under Record or Video settings. ## Worked examples (continuous recording) | System | Data per day | 1 TB lasts | 2 TB lasts | 4 TB lasts | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 4 cameras at 2 Mbps (2MP, H.265) | about 84 GB | about 12 days | about 24 days | about 48 days | | 8 cameras at 2 Mbps | about 168 GB | about 6 days | about 12 days | about 24 days | | 8 cameras at 4 Mbps (4MP) | about 336 GB | about 3 days | about 6 days | about 12 days | These are estimates; busy scenes, night noise and higher settings use more. Motion-only recording often multiplies the days several times. ## How to record for longer - Turn on H.265+ (or H.265) on cameras and recorder - Record on motion or AcuSense events, with a short continuous schedule if needed - Lower the frame rate to 12 to 15 fps for general views - Add a bigger surveillance disk or a second disk bay - Keep the main stream for recording and the sub-stream for phone viewing Compare recorders in [Hikvision NVR and DVR prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-nvr-dvr-price-in-kenya) and disks in [CCTV hard disk prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-hard-disk-price-in-kenya). ## Frequently asked questions How many days does a 1TB Hikvision DVR record? For four 2MP cameras recording continuously at about 2 Mbps, roughly 12 days. Motion recording can extend this a lot. Does Hikvision record over old footage? Yes, if Overwrite is enabled in storage settings; otherwise recording stops when the disk is full. Is a surveillance hard disk necessary? Yes. Surveillance disks are built to write 24/7; desktop disks fail sooner in recorders. ## Why customers choose Qyvea **Genuine brands**: Manufacturer warranty on what we sell, so you are not gambling on the box. **One team, start to finish**: The people who advise you also install and support it. **Fast answers**: WhatsApp replies usually within 30 minutes, and delivery within 24 hours in Nairobi. **Easy to buy**: Pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. Free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KES 5,000. **Risk taken off you**: 7-day returns and exchanges on products, and a workmanship warranty on installations. **Customers say so**: Rated 4.6/5 from 57 Google reviews. **Your next step takes one minute:** send us a photo of the place on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it needs. ## Related articles [CCTV · Guide How Long Does CCTV Keep Footage? Recording Days & Hard Drives How to work out how many days your recorder keeps, why surveillance-rated drives matter, and when motion recording makes sense. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-recording-duration-hard-drives-kenya)[CCTV · Comparison H.264 vs H.265 vs H.265+: CCTV Compression Explained Compression decides how much storage and bandwidth your cameras eat. What H.265 saves over H.264, and what the '+' versions add. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/h264-vs-h265-cctv-compression-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting Hikvision DVR Not Recording? Causes and Fixes No playback, gaps in recordings or a DVR that won't start: the checks that find the cause, in order. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-dvr-not-recording-kenya) ### Related services [CCTV Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv)[Hikvision NVR & DVR Prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-nvr-dvr-price-in-kenya) ### Related products [CCTV cameras in the shop](https://qyvea.co.ke/cctv-cameras-kenya) ### Related projects [CCTV installation, commercial property](https://qyvea.co.ke/projects#cctv-case-study) [← Previous**Hikvision DVR or NVR Forgot Password: How to Reset It**](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-dvr-password-reset-kenya)[Next →**: How CCTV Cameras Are Installed, Step by Step**](https://qyvea.co.ke/how-to-install-cctv-camera-step-by-step-kenya) ## Need this system installed? Talk to Qyvea. We design, install and maintain it. 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