ProRes 422 HQ storage requirements
One hour of ProRes 422 HQ in UHD at 25p takes 324 GB. The table below runs the numbers for every common resolution and frame rate — including how many cards and how much backup volume a shoot day actually needs.
Footage Storage Calculator
- Footage per day
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- With all copies
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- Cards needed
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- Offload time (1 copy)
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Data rates: ProRes/DNxHR are per-frame constants from the Apple/Avid specs; RAW derives from resolution × bytes/pixel (nominal). Details further down this page.
ProRes 422 HQ: GB per hour
ProRes 422 HQ is per-frame constant (3.69 MB per UHD frame per the spec) — the data rate scales linearly with frame rate and pixel count. That is why 50p is exactly twice 25p, and 8K four times UHD.
| Resolution | 24p | 25p | 30p | 50p | 60p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 1920×1080 | 78 | 81 | 97 | 162 | 194 |
| UHD 3840×2160 | 311 | 324 | 389 | 648 | 778 |
| 4K DCI 4096×2160 | 332 | 346 | 415 | 691 | 829 |
| 6K 6144×3240 | 746 | 778 | 933 | 1,555 | 1,866 |
| 8K 8192×4320 | 1,327 | 1,382 | 1,659 | 2,765 | 3,317 |
From GB to a shoot day
A typical shoot day produces 2–4 hours of footage per camera. At ProRes 422 HQ in UHD 25p that is 648–1,296 GB per camera — before copies. With 3-2-1 backup (three copies) it multiplies to 2.8 TB per three hours of material. The table runs three full shoot-day scenarios:
| Footage | Raw data | 1 TB cards | 3-2-1 volume | Offload per copy (400 MB/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 h | 648 GB | 1 | 1.90 TB | 28 min |
| 4 h | 1.27 TB | 2 | 3.80 TB | 55 min |
| 8 h | 2.53 TB | 3 | 7.59 TB | 1 h 51 min |
Planning offload and backup
Offload is the underrated line: securing a 1 TB card over a 400 MB/s link takes about 42 minutes per copy. Book the DIT only for wrap and you have booked a night shift.
In the schedule this number belongs in two places: as a card budget on the equipment list and as an offload window in the day plan. TillyGen keeps both in the same plan — change the shooting hours and the offload window moves with them.
Frequently asked
How much storage does 1 hour of ProRes 422 HQ need?
In UHD at 25p: 324 GB. At 50p, double that. Every resolution is in the table above.
Are the numbers exact?
ProRes/DNxHR are specified target rates; real files land within a few percent. For capacity planning, use the nominal value plus 10 % headroom.