How long does CCTV footage actually get stored before it's deleted?

Retention time depends entirely on storage type and capacity, not a fixed universal number. Local NVR storage and cloud storage plans behave differently, and it's worth understanding both before assuming footage will always be there when you need it.

Local NVR storage: capacity-based, not time-based

A local NVR typically overwrites the oldest footage once storage fills up, meaning retention length depends on hard drive size and how much footage is being recorded, resolution, number of cameras, and whether it's motion-triggered or continuous.

Cloud storage: usually a set plan duration

Cloud plans commonly offer a fixed retention window, a set number of days, as part of the subscription, after which older footage is automatically deleted to make room for new recordings.

What actually shortens your effective retention

Higher resolution footage, more cameras, and continuous rather than motion-triggered recording all use up storage faster, shrinking how far back you can actually go.

Why this matters more than people expect

If an incident isn't noticed and reviewed within the actual retention window, the footage may already be gone, which is why knowing your real retention time, not assuming it, actually matters.

What we help size

We help size storage, local or cloud, to the retention window that actually matters for your situation, and explain honestly how resolution and camera count affect how far back footage will realistically go.