Related tools
Planning a CCTV-only stream load? Use the IP Camera Bandwidth Calculator. Estimating a camera stream first? Use the Camera Bitrate Calculator. Sizing switches too? Use the PoE Switch Calculator.
Related guide: CCTV Bandwidth Planning Guide →
How to Calculate Network Bandwidth
Device traffic is devices x bandwidth per device x concurrency. The calculator then adds fixed traffic and applies the selected planning headroom.
Bandwidth vs Network Capacity
Bandwidth requirement is the estimated traffic demand. Link capacity is the nominal available network speed. Utilization is planned demand divided by available capacity, and nominal Ethernet capacity is not guaranteed real-world throughput.
Mbps vs MB/s
Network bandwidth is usually measured in megabits per second. Because 8 bits = 1 byte, 80 Mbps is about 10 MB/s.
Network Bandwidth Examples
| Devices | Per Device | Concurrency | Other Traffic | Planned Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4 Mbps | 100% | 0 Mbps | 38.4 Mbps with 20% headroom |
| 20 | 5 Mbps | 100% | 20 Mbps | 144 Mbps with 20% headroom |
| 40 | 20 Mbps | 100% | 100 Mbps | 1,080 Mbps with 20% headroom |
How Much Network Capacity Do I Need?
Common nominal link sizes include 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, and 10 Gbps. The calculator chooses a nominal capacity that exceeds planned demand, but actual usable throughput can be lower.
CCTV Network Bandwidth
For camera-only stream planning based on configured camera bitrate, use the IP Camera Bandwidth Calculator. If you need a rough single-camera bitrate first, start with the Camera Bitrate Calculator.
FAQ
How do I calculate network bandwidth?
Multiply devices by bandwidth per device and concurrency, add fixed traffic, then apply the selected planning headroom.
How much bandwidth do 20 devices need?
Twenty devices at 5 Mbps each with 100% concurrency create 100 Mbps of device traffic. With 20 Mbps of fixed traffic and 20% headroom, the planned result is 144 Mbps.
What is network capacity?
Network capacity is the nominal speed available on a link or path, such as 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 5 Gbps, or 10 Gbps.
What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps is megabits per second. MB/s is megabytes per second. Divide Mbps by 8 for approximate MB/s.
Is a 1 Gbps network always capable of 1 Gbps throughput?
No. Nominal Ethernet speed is not guaranteed real-world application throughput because overhead, equipment, cabling, switching, and traffic patterns can reduce usable performance.
How much spare bandwidth should I leave?
Leave enough headroom for bursts, protocol overhead, growth, and other traffic. The right margin depends on how critical and variable the workload is.