unifi calculator
Estimate UniFi Protect Storage & Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) Needs
Protect Storage Calculator
Enter the total quantity of 4K (e.g., G4 Pro, G5 Pro) cameras.
Default is 8 Mbps. High-motion scenes may require up to 16 Mbps.
Enter the total quantity of 1080p/2K (e.g., G5 Bullet, G5 Flex) cameras.
Default is 4 Mbps. High-motion scenes may require up to 6 Mbps.
How many days of continuous recordings do you need to store?
Wi-Fi AP Coverage Estimator
Select the unit for your coverage area.
Higher density and more obstructions require more APs.
Total Required Storage
Total Camera Bitrate
Storage Per Day
Estimated APs Needed
What is a unifi calculator?
A unifi calculator is a specialized planning tool used to estimate the hardware requirements for deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi network. Unlike a financial calculator, it helps network administrators and IT professionals answer critical questions about infrastructure needs. This particular calculator focuses on two key areas: calculating the necessary video storage for a UniFi Protect surveillance system and estimating the number of Wi-Fi access points (APs) required to provide adequate wireless coverage for a given space.
By inputting details such as the number and type of cameras, desired video retention time, and the size of the coverage area, you can get accurate, data-driven estimates to design a robust and reliable network. This prevents overspending on unnecessary hardware or, more critically, underspending and ending up with insufficient storage or poor Wi-Fi performance. For more in-depth planning, consider using the official {internal_links}.
unifi calculator Formula and Explanation
The calculator uses two primary formulas: one for storage calculation and one for AP estimation.
UniFi Protect Storage Formula
The storage calculation converts the total bitrate of all cameras into the total data generated over the retention period.
Total Storage (TB) = (((Total Bitrate (Mbps) * 1,000,000) / 8) * 3600 * 24 * Retention Days) / 1,000,000,000,000
First, the total bitrate is converted from Megabits per second (Mbps) to Bytes per day. This daily storage requirement is then multiplied by the number of days you wish to keep recordings, giving you the total storage needed. If you are planning a large deployment, check out resources on {related_keywords}.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera Bitrate | The data rate produced by a single camera. | Mbps | 2 – 16 |
| Number of Cameras | The total count of cameras in the system. | Integer | 1 – 100+ |
| Retention Days | The number of days to store continuous footage. | Days | 7 – 90 |
Wi-Fi AP Coverage Formula
Estimated APs = CEILING(Total Area / Coverage Per AP)
The “Coverage Per AP” is an estimate based on the selected environment. Open spaces allow a single AP to cover more area, while dense environments with many walls (like those with concrete) reduce an AP’s effective range.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Small Home Setup
A homeowner wants to cover their 1,800 sq ft house and install two 2K cameras for security, keeping footage for 14 days.
- Inputs: 0 x 4K Cameras, 2 x 2K Cameras (at 4 Mbps), 14 Days Retention, 1800 sq ft, Low Density.
- Results: This setup requires approximately 0.94 TB of storage and an estimated 1 Access Point for good Wi-Fi coverage.
Example 2: Small Business Office
A small business needs to monitor its 5,000 sq ft office with a mix of high-resolution and standard cameras, storing footage for 60 days for liability purposes. The office has many drywall partitions.
- Inputs: 4 x 4K Cameras (at 8 Mbps), 8 x 2K Cameras (at 4 Mbps), 60 Days Retention, 5000 sq ft, Medium Density.
- Results: The business would need approximately 40.32 TB of storage and an estimated 4 Access Points to ensure reliable connectivity for employees and guests. Exploring {related_keywords} can further optimize this setup.
How to Use This unifi calculator
Using this calculator is a straightforward process:
- Enter Camera Details: In the “Protect Storage Calculator” section, input the number of 4K and 1080p/2K cameras you plan to install. Adjust the average bitrate if you expect high-motion scenes.
- Set Retention Period: Enter the number of days you need to store video footage. 30 days is a common standard for businesses.
- Define Coverage Area: In the “Wi-Fi AP Coverage Estimator,” enter the total size of the area you need to cover and select the correct unit (square feet or meters).
- Select Environment Type: Choose the client density and environment that best matches your space. This is a crucial factor for AP estimation.
- Review Results: The calculator will instantly update, showing the total storage required in Terabytes (TB) and the estimated number of APs needed. The intermediate values provide additional context for your planning. To learn more about different network setups, see {internal_links}.
Key Factors That Affect unifi calculator
Several factors can significantly impact your storage and Wi-Fi needs:
- Camera Resolution & Bitrate: Higher resolution cameras (like 4K) produce significantly more data than 1080p cameras, drastically increasing storage needs.
- Frame Rate (FPS): While not a direct input here, a higher FPS increases the bitrate and, consequently, the required storage.
- Scene Complexity & Motion: A busy scene with constant motion requires a higher bitrate to maintain image quality compared to a static scene.
- Building Materials: For Wi-Fi, materials like concrete, brick, and metal severely inhibit signal propagation, reducing the effective range of an AP and increasing the number of APs required.
- Client Density: The number of devices connecting in a given area. A high-density environment (e.g., a conference room or auditorium) requires more APs to handle the load, even if the area is small. More info can be found by researching {related_keywords}.
- Hardware Choice: The specific model of UniFi Access Point can affect coverage area and capacity. Similarly, the UniFi NVR model chosen will determine the number of hard drive bays available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is the calculated storage an exact requirement?
It’s a very close estimate. Actual usage can vary slightly based on the camera’s adaptive bitrate, which adjusts based on motion and scene complexity. It’s wise to add a 15-20% buffer to the calculated value.
2. Why do I need to select an area unit?
The unit (square feet or meters) is essential for the AP coverage estimation. The calculator uses different coverage assumptions for each unit to provide a relevant estimate.
3. Does this calculator tell me which AP model to buy?
No, it only estimates the quantity. The model choice (e.g., U6-Lite, U6-Pro, U7-Pro) depends on your specific performance needs, client device capabilities, and budget.
4. How does client density affect the AP count?
High client density means more devices are competing for airtime. To maintain good performance, more APs are needed to distribute the load, even if the physical area is well-covered by a single AP’s signal. You can learn more about this by searching {related_keywords}.
5. What if my environment has mixed wall types?
If you have a mix of drywall and concrete, it is safer to choose the more obstructive option (“High Density”) to ensure you don’t underestimate your AP needs.
6. Does this work for UniFi Dream Machine (UDM) storage?
Yes, the storage calculation is valid for any UniFi Protect installation, whether on a UDM Pro, UNVR, or Cloud Key. You just need to ensure the device supports the required hard drive size.
7. What is bitrate and why does it matter so much?
Bitrate is the amount of data used to encode a second of video, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). It is the single most important factor in determining storage consumption; doubling the bitrate doubles the required storage.
8. Can I use one AP for a very large, open space?
While a single AP might cover a large open area, it may not have the capacity to handle a large number of users. It’s often better to use multiple APs to balance the client load. The official {internal_links} page offers great examples.