Memory Card Capacity Calculator
Knowing how many photos or how many minutes of video a memory card holds helps you plan for shoots and avoid running out of storage at critical moments. This calculator estimates photo count (card size divided by file size per photo) and video recording time (card size divided by video data rate). Enter your card size in gigabytes, the file size per image in megabytes, and your video bitrate in Mbps to get both estimates simultaneously.
Memory card capacity formula
Photo count = card size (MB) / file size per image (MB)
Video minutes = card size (MB) / (bitrate (Mbps) / 8 x 60)
Example: 64 GB card (64,000 MB), 28 MB RAW files, 100 Mbps video. Photos: 64,000 / 28 = 2,286 images. Video: 64,000 / (100/8 x 60) = 64,000 / 750 = 85.3 minutes.
Typical file sizes for reference
- JPEG (12 MP, low compression): 3-5 MB
- JPEG (24 MP, standard): 5-10 MB
- RAW (24 MP): 20-30 MB
- RAW (45 MP): 50-90 MB
- RAW (60 MP): 90-130 MB
- Video (1080p, 28 Mbps H.264): 210 MB/min
- Video (4K, 100 Mbps H.264): 750 MB/min
- Video (4K, 50 Mbps H.265): 375 MB/min
Memory card capacity: frequently asked questions
How many photos fit on a 64 GB memory card?
It depends on file size. A 24-megapixel RAW file is typically 25-30 MB. A 64 GB card holds 64,000 MB. At 28 MB per RAW: 64,000 / 28 = about 2,285 images. JPEG files are smaller, typically 5-10 MB, giving 6,400-12,800 JPEGs per 64 GB card.
How many minutes of video fit on a memory card?
Video storage depends on bitrate. Formula: capacity (GB) / (bitrate (Mbps) / 8 x 60) = minutes. A 64 GB card at 100 Mbps (4K H.264): 64,000 MB / (100 Mbps / 8 x 60 s/min) = 64,000 / 750 = about 85 minutes.
Why does my memory card show less space than advertised?
Storage manufacturers use decimal gigabytes (1 GB = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), while computers often display in binary (1 GiB = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). A 64 GB card stores about 59.6 GiB. This accounts for roughly a 7% apparent shortfall.
How large are RAW files from different cameras?
Typical RAW file sizes: 12 MP = 12-15 MB. 24 MP = 20-30 MB. 45 MP = 50-80 MB. 60 MP = 90-120 MB. Compressed RAW (cRAW, lossless compressed) is often 30-50% smaller than uncompressed RAW for the same resolution.
Does video format (H.264 vs H.265) affect card capacity?
Yes. At the same visual quality, H.265 requires about half the bitrate of H.264, so it uses about half the storage. If your camera records 4K at 100 Mbps H.264 or 50 Mbps H.265 at equivalent quality, H.265 doubles your recording time on the same card.
Official sources
- SD Association: SD and SDXC card capacity specifications. SDCard.org.
- ISO/IEC 14496-10:2022 (H.264/AVC) and ISO/IEC 23008-2:2023 (H.265/HEVC). ISO.org.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.