What size SD card does a 1080p front only dash cam need?
A 64GB card keeps a full 8-hour driving day from a 1080p front only dash cam at a typical 12 Mbps; 16GB covers a 2-hour commute. Buy a high-endurance card and check your camera's maximum supported size.
64GB / high endurance
The 64GB 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 only camera writes about 5.4GB per hour at a typical 12 Mbps. Adding a rear camera later would add about 10 Mbps and shorten the loop accordingly.
| Hours to keep | Space needed | Card to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 6 GB | 16GB |
| 2 h | 12 GB | 16GB |
| 4 h | 23 GB | 32GB |
| 8 h | 46 GB | 64GB |
| 12 h | 70 GB | 128GB |
| 24 h | 139 GB | 256GB |
How long does each card size last at this setting?
| Card | Loop length |
|---|---|
| 16GB | 2 h 45 min |
| 32GB | 5 h 31 min |
| 64GB | 11 h 1 min |
| 128GB | 22 h 3 min |
| 256GB | 44 h 5 min |
| 512GB | 88 h 11 min |
Cards and 1080p front only cameras
Check the camera's maximum supported card size before buying.
SANDISK 32GB High Endurance Video microSDHC Card with Adapter for dash cam and home...32GB / high endurance$22.99Check price on Amazon
SANDISK 32GB MAX Endurance microSDHC Card with Adapter for Home Security Cameras and...32GB / high endurance$35.99Check price on Amazon
SANDISK 128GB High Endurance Video microSDXC Card with Adapter for dash cam and home...128GB / high endurance$36.99Check price on Amazon
Integral 128GB High Endurance microSD Card for CCTV, Dash Cam & Security Cameras, 4K...128GB / high endurance$38.95Check price on Amazon
Nextbase 322GW Dash Cam mini with APP- Full 1080p/60fps HD Recording in Car Camera- 6...1080p / front only / GPS / Wi-Fi$159.99Check price on Amazon
BlackVue DR770X II, 1080P Full HD Dash Cam Front, STARVIS, Free 512GB Card1080p / front only$399.99Check price on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Is 128GB enough for a 1080p front only dash cam?
128GB holds about 22 h 3 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 1.5 MB per second. Endurance, not speed, is what decides how long a card lasts.