Dash cams can be very useful for you because they can record everything around your car whenever you are driving. They can help you get evidence if anything goes wrong which you can use to get claims or for legal purposes. But you might be worried about them running out of space. You might want to know how long your dash cam can record. In this guide, we will tell you everything you should know about dash cam recording time.
Introduction
Everyone wants their dashcams to record whenever any important event happens. You might also want your dash cam to record everything around your car all the time. For this reason, it is very important that you should know about storage of your dash cam. This will help you choose the right SD card and settings for your dash cam.
Factors Affecting Dash Cam Recording Duration
There are many things that can affect how long your dash cam can record. You should know and think about these things when you are choosing your dash cam or an SD card.
Video Resolution
The resolution of the videos your dash camera can record decides how clear each frame is. Higher resolution videos like 2.5k or 4k can take up a lot more space as compared to lower resolution videos like 720p or 1080p. You should think about what resolution videos you want your dash cam to record.
Frame Rate
The Frame rate is how many pictures your dash camera can take / record every second. A higher frame rate (like 60 FPS) will make a much smoother video but can also take up more storage space. A lower frame rate (like 30 FPS) will take up very less storage space but can make your videos look choppy. You should set the FPS to what you think works best for you and your storage needs.
SD Card Capacity
The size of your SD card is also very important thing when you talk about how long your dash camera record for. An SD card with bigger storage can store a lor more videos as compared to smaller storage SD card which can only store fewer videos. You should also check the manual of your SD card to see what size it supports as not all SD cards can be used on all dash cams. Dash cams from Wolfbox work well with a wide range of SD card sizes which makes things easier for you.
Compression Methods
You should also check your dash cam to see what compression method it uses to compress your videos. Highly compressed videos will take up very less space as compared to uncompressed videos. You should get a dash cam that can compress videos in H.264 or H.256 formats.
|
Resolution |
Approximate File Size per Minute |
|
1080p |
60-80 MB |
|
1440p |
100-120 MB |
|
4K |
200-300 MB |
Estimating Recording Time Based on SD Card Size
The size of your SD card will decide how much video you can store before the dash cam starts overwriting it.
64GB SD Card
A 64 GB SD card is good if you want to use the camera for short trips and daily use. You can use it to record several hours of videos depending on what resolution and other settings you are using on your dash cam. If you are recording videos in 1080p, your 64 GB SD card can record up to 8-10 hours of videos.
128GB SD Card
You can use a 128 GB SD card if you want something for longer rides or when you want to keep videos for a longer time. You can use it to record videos for many hours depending on camera settings. Your 128 GB SD card can record videos for up to 16 – 20 hours if you are recording on 1080p resolution.
Wolfbox 128GB SD card can be a great value for your Dash cam: WOLFBOX Dash Cam 128GB Micro SD Card, Class 10 U3 TF Card
256GB SD Card
If you want to record your very long trips or videos in very high resolution, A 256 GB SD card is what you should get. This is good for people who want to record everything in the best quality. Your 256GB SD card can record high-quality of 2.5K resolution for 24 hours.
WOLFBOX Dash Cam 512GB/256GB Micro SD Card, Class 10 U3 TF Card
|
SD Card Size |
720p Recording Time (Approx.) |
1080p Recording Time (Approx.) |
1440p Recording Time (Approx.) |
4K Recording Time (Approx.) |
|
32GB |
8 – 10 hours |
4 – 5 hours |
2 – 3 hours |
1 - 1.5 hours |
|
64GB |
16 – 20 hours |
8 – 10 hours |
4 – 6 hours |
2 – 3 hours |
|
128GB |
32 – 40 hours |
16 – 20 hours |
8 – 12 hours |
4 – 6 hours |
|
256GB |
64 – 72 hours |
32 – 40 hours |
16 – 24 hours |
8 – 12 hours |
This table has estimated values and actual recording times may vary depending on the settings of your dash cam.
Recommended SD Card Sizes for Dash Cams
You should buy the right SD card for your dash cameras and here is what you should think about before getting one for you.
Daily Commute
If you only use your vehicle for a very short time each day, you don’t need an SD card with large storage capacity. A smaller SD card like a 32 GB or 64 GB card will be enough for you.
Road Trips
If you are a vlogger or just like to take long road trips and want to record your journey, you should go for higher storage capacity. SD card with size of 128 GB or 256 GB is what you should get for your dash cam. This will let you record your whole trips without having to worry about running out of space.
Parking Mode
Some dash cams like Wolfbox G900pro have a parking mode feature and record everything even when your car is turned off. If you want to use such features, your dash cam will need more storage space but will make your car more secure.
Related: What is Parking Mode On Dash Cam?
Budget
Every SD card costs a different amount. You should get an SD camera from a reputable brand that fits your budget and fulfils all your needs. Wolfbox have a range of SD cards options at competitive prices that makes it easier for you to find one.
Tips for Maximizing Dash Cam Recording Time
Optimizing Settings and Maintenance Practices
You can change different settings on your dash cam to save up space and make them record for a long time.
Lower the Resolution
If you think that you don’t need very high resolution, you can also lower the resolution of your dash cam. This will make your dash cam take up very less space.
Lower the Frame Rate
You can also lower the frame rate of your dash cam to make the video take up less storage space. With this, you can also make your dash camera record for a long time.
Use Loop Recording
Loop recording will make your dash cam record over old videos. This means you don't have to delete videos yourself.
Format Your SD Card Regularly
You should also format your SD card regularly to keep it working well. This can also help you avoid problems with your videos and will make them work perfectly.
Use a High-Quality SD Card
Using a good SD card will also make sure your dash cam’s videos are safe. Wolfbox SD cards are specially designed for dash cams and suit them the best.
Related: How to Choose Best SD Cards for Dash Cam?
Conclusion
There are many things you have to keep in mind to make the SD card for your dash cams work for a long time. Doing this will make sure your dash cameras can record videos for hours without removing the older videos. Wolfbox Dash cameras support all SD card sizes. You can also get SD cards for your dash cam from Wolfbox.
