What size SD card does a 1080p front and rear dash cam need?
A 128GB card keeps a full 8-hour driving day from a 1080p front and rear dash cam at a typical 22 Mbps; 32GB covers a 2-hour commute. Buy a high-endurance card and check your camera's maximum supported size.
128GB / high endurance
The 128GB size that holds a full driving day at this setting, in a high-endurance grade built for loop recording.
How big a card for how many hours?
A 1080p front and rear camera writes about 9.9GB per hour at a typical 22 Mbps. Each extra 1080p channel adds about 10 Mbps, which is why the rear camera costs you roughly 45 percent of the loop.
| Hours to keep | Space needed | Card to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 11 GB | 16GB |
| 2 h | 21 GB | 32GB |
| 4 h | 43 GB | 64GB |
| 8 h | 85 GB | 128GB |
| 12 h | 128 GB | 128GB |
| 24 h | 255 GB | 256GB |
How long does each card size last at this setting?
| Card | Loop length |
|---|---|
| 16GB | 1 h 30 min |
| 32GB | 3 h |
| 64GB | 6 h 1 min |
| 128GB | 12 h 1 min |
| 256GB | 24 h 3 min |
| 512GB | 48 h 6 min |
Cards and 1080p front and rear cameras
Check the camera's maximum supported card size before buying.
(5 Yrs Free Data Recovery) (Dash Cam) GIGASTONE 64GB Micro SD Card, TLC High Endurance...64GB / high enduranceUnder $25Check price on Amazon
SANDISK 32GB High Endurance Video microSDHC Card with Adapter for dash cam and home...32GB / high enduranceUnder $25Check price on Amazon
SANDISK 32GB MAX Endurance microSDHC Card with Adapter for Home Security Cameras and...32GB / high enduranceUnder $50Check price on Amazon
Integral 128GB High Endurance microSD Card for CCTV, Dash Cam & Security Cameras, 4K...128GB / high enduranceUnder $50Check price on Amazon
Nextbase 222x Front and Rear Dash Cam | Car Recording Camera | Full 1080p/30fps HD...1080p / 2 channelUnder $150Check price on Amazon
BlackVue DR770X II, 1080P+1080P Dash Cam Front and Rear, Free 64GB Card1080p / 2 channelUnder $500Check price on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Is 128GB enough for a 1080p front and rear dash cam?
128GB holds about 12 h 1 min at this setting. That is more than a full day of driving, so it is plenty for most drivers.
Do I need a high-endurance SD card?
Yes. A dash cam rewrites its whole card every few hours, and ordinary cards are not rated for that. High-endurance cards are built for continuous video and handle windshield heat better. A worn-out card often keeps recording but writes corrupt files, so format it in the camera every few weeks and replace it at the first recording error.
What speed class does a dash cam card need?
Even a three-channel 4K camera writes only a few megabytes per second, so a U3 or V30 card is enough. This setup writes about 2.8 MB per second. Endurance, not speed, is what decides how long a card lasts.
