iPhone Video Size Calculator: Estimate Storage Before Recording
Planning your iPhone video recording requires understanding how much storage different settings consume. A 10-minute 4K video at 60fps can consume 4GB—nearly 10% of a 64GB iPhone's total storage. This calculator guide helps you estimate file sizes before recording, preventing storage surprises during important moments.
Understanding video file sizes enables smart recording decisions. You can choose the right quality for each situation, plan storage needs for events, and avoid running out of space mid-recording.
iPhone Video File Size Quick Reference
Here's a comprehensive reference table for all iPhone recording modes. Use this to estimate storage needs before recording.
Complete File Size Table
| Recording Setting | Per Minute | 10 Minutes | 1 Hour | Storage Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720p HD @ 30fps | 40MB | 400MB | 2.4GB | Minimal |
| 1080p HD @ 30fps | 60MB | 600MB | 3.6GB | Low |
| 1080p HD @ 60fps | 90MB | 900MB | 5.4GB | Moderate |
| 4K @ 24fps | 135MB | 1.35GB | 8.1GB | High |
| 4K @ 30fps | 170MB | 1.7GB | 10.2GB | Very High |
| 4K @ 60fps | 400MB | 4GB | 24GB | Extreme |
| ProRes 4K @ 30fps | 1.2GB | 12GB | 72GB | Professional |
Key Observations:
- 4K 60fps consumes 10x more storage than 1080p 30fps
- ProRes is 7x larger than regular 4K
- Frame rate doubles file size (60fps = 2x 30fps)
- Resolution quadruples file size (4K = 4x 1080p)
Storage Calculation Formula
File Size = Duration (minutes) × Bitrate (MB/min)
Always add 20% buffer for safety. For example, a 30-minute 4K 30fps video needs: 30 × 170MB = 5.1GB, plus 20% buffer = 6.12GB total storage needed.
HEVC Compression Impact
Modern iPhones record in HEVC format by default, which significantly reduces file sizes compared to older H.264 format.
HEVC vs H.264 Comparison
| Resolution | Frame Rate | H.264 Size | HEVC Size | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 30fps | 60MB/min | 22MB/min | 63% |
| 4K | 30fps | 170MB/min | 112MB/min | 34% |
| 4K | 60fps | 400MB/min | 225MB/min | 44% |
HEVC Benefits:
- 50-70% smaller files than H.264
- No visible quality loss
- Hardware accelerated on modern devices
- Better battery efficiency during playback
H.264 Format
- •4K 30fps recording
- •Older codec standard
- •Larger file sizes
- •Universal compatibility
HEVC Format
- •Same 4K 30fps recording
- •Modern codec standard
- •34% smaller files
- •Modern device support
Storage Planning by Event Type
Different events require different amounts of recording. Here's how to plan storage for common scenarios.
Special Events & Holidays
30-Minute Celebration (4K 30fps):
- Expected file size: ~5.1GB
- Recommended free space: 8GB
- Backup plan: Have 16GB+ available
- Alternative: Use 1080p (1.8GB for 30 min)
1-Hour Wedding/Event:
- 4K 30fps: ~10.2GB
- 1080p 30fps: ~3.6GB
- Recommended: 15GB free for 4K, 5GB for 1080p
- Strategy: Record in segments, compress between
Vacation & Travel
1-Week Trip (Mixed Recording):
- Daily videos (20 min 4K): 3.4GB/day
- Weekly total: ~24GB
- Recommended storage: 50GB free
- Strategy: Compress daily or use cloud backup
2-Week Vacation:
- Estimated recording: 2-3 hours total
- 4K 30fps: ~20-30GB
- 1080p 30fps: ~7-11GB
- Recommended: 40GB free for 4K, 15GB for 1080p
Content Creation
Daily Vlogging (30 min/day):
- 4K 30fps: 5.1GB/day
- Monthly: ~150GB
- 1080p 30fps: 1.8GB/day
- Monthly: ~54GB
- Strategy: External storage essential
Pro Tip
For vacations and extended recording, use 1080p 30fps instead of 4K. The quality difference is minimal for most uses, but storage savings are dramatic—you can record 3x longer with the same storage.
Manual Video Size Calculation
Calculate storage needs for your specific recording plans using these formulas and guidelines.
Step-by-Step Calculation
Step 1: Choose Your Settings
- Select resolution (720p, 1080p, 4K)
- Choose frame rate (24fps, 30fps, 60fps)
- Determine codec (H.264 or HEVC)
Step 2: Find Per-Minute Size
- Use the reference table above
- Or calculate: Resolution × Frame Rate × Codec Factor
Step 3: Calculate Total Size
- Multiply per-minute size by duration
- Add 20% safety buffer
- This is your storage requirement
Example Calculation:
- Recording: 45 minutes of 4K 30fps HEVC
- Per minute: 112MB
- Total: 45 × 112MB = 5.04GB
- With buffer: 5.04GB × 1.2 = 6.05GB
- Required storage: 6.05GB
Calculate Your Storage Needs
Determine recording duration in minutes
Choose resolution and frame rate
Find per-minute size from reference table
Multiply: Duration × Per-Minute Size
Add 20% safety buffer
Verify you have enough free storage
Adjust settings if storage is insufficient
Compression Savings Calculator
Understanding compression savings helps you plan storage more effectively. Here's how much space you can save by compressing videos.
Compression Impact Table
| Original File | Compression Level | Compressed Size | Space Saved | Quality Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB 4K Video | Light (HEVC) | 500MB | 50% | Barely noticeable |
| 1GB 4K Video | Medium | 300MB | 70% | Minor quality loss |
| 1GB 4K Video | High | 150MB | 85% | Noticeable on large screens |
Compression Guidelines:
- Light compression: 50% savings, virtually no quality loss
- Medium compression: 70% savings, minor quality loss
- High compression: 85% savings, noticeable on large screens
- Always preview before deleting originals
Real-World Compression Examples
10-Minute 4K Video:
- Original (H.264): 1.7GB
- Light HEVC: 850MB (50% savings)
- Medium HEVC: 510MB (70% savings)
- High HEVC: 255MB (85% savings)
1-Hour 1080p Video:
- Original (H.264): 3.6GB
- Light HEVC: 1.8GB (50% savings)
- Medium HEVC: 1.08GB (70% savings)
- High HEVC: 540MB (85% savings)
Before Compression
- • 10 min 4K = 1.7GB
- • 1 hour 4K = 10.2GB
- • Fills storage quickly
- • H.264 format
After HEVC Compression
- • 10 min 4K = 510MB
- • 1 hour 4K = 3.06GB
- • 70% smaller files
- • HEVC format
iPhone Storage Recommendations by Use Case
Different users have different recording needs. Here are storage recommendations based on usage patterns.
Casual User
Recording Habits:
- 1080p 30fps
- 10-20 minutes per month
- Storage needed: 5GB free
- iPhone model: 64GB+ adequate
- Strategy: Regular cleanup
Monthly Storage:
- 20 minutes × 22MB/min = 440MB
- With buffer: ~600MB per month
- Annual: ~7GB per year
Content Creator
Recording Habits:
- 4K 30fps
- 2-5 hours per month
- Storage needed: 50GB free
- iPhone model: 256GB+ recommended
- Strategy: Regular compression & backup
Monthly Storage:
- 3 hours × 6.72GB/hour = 20.16GB
- With buffer: ~25GB per month
- Annual: ~300GB per year
Professional
Recording Habits:
- ProRes 4K
- 5-10 hours per month
- Storage needed: 200GB+ free
- iPhone model: 512GB or 1TB
- Strategy: External storage workflow
Monthly Storage:
- 7.5 hours × 72GB/hour = 540GB
- With buffer: ~650GB per month
- External storage essential
Storage Planning Essentials
- Calculate storage needs before recording
- Add 20% safety buffer to estimates
- Use 1080p for extended recording sessions
- Compress videos regularly to manage storage
- Use external storage for large projects
- Monitor storage usage weekly
- Keep at least 10GB free for optimal performance
Storage Planning Tools and Tips
Use these tools and techniques to plan storage effectively and avoid running out of space.
Pre-Recording Checklist
Before Important Events:
- Calculate expected recording time
- Estimate file sizes using calculator
- Verify sufficient free storage (2x estimate)
- Clear unnecessary content if needed
- Have backup plan (external storage or cloud)
Storage Verification:
- Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Check available free space
- Ensure at least 20% free for optimal performance
- Clear space if below threshold
Real-Time Storage Monitoring
During Recording:
- Monitor storage in Settings periodically
- Stop recording if storage gets low
- Switch to lower quality if needed
- Transfer videos to external storage mid-session
Post-Recording:
- Immediately compress large videos
- Archive to external storage
- Upload to cloud backup
- Delete originals after verification
Conclusion: Smart Storage Planning
Understanding iPhone video file sizes enables smart recording decisions. By calculating storage needs before recording, choosing appropriate quality settings, and implementing compression strategies, you can record confidently without storage surprises.
The key is matching recording quality to your actual needs. Not every video needs 4K. Not every video needs 60fps. Use this calculator to make informed decisions, and you'll never run out of storage during important moments.
Remember: Storage is cheap, but moments are priceless. Plan ahead, compress regularly, and use external storage for large projects. With the right approach, you can capture everything that matters without storage limitations.