How many days can a 32GB memory card record on a dash cam?
3 Answers
A 32GB memory card can record for 5-7 hours on a dash cam. The functions and usage precautions of a dash cam are as follows: Functions of a dash cam: A dash cam is an instrument that records images, sounds, and related information during vehicle travel. After installing a dash cam, it can record the entire driving process in video and audio, providing evidence for traffic accidents. For those who enjoy road trips, it can also be used to document the journey through challenging terrains. Precautions for using a dash cam: The video footage recorded by the dash cam should not be edited. If edited, it may not be helpful in the event of an accident. This also helps prevent unavoidable fraudulent claims in today's society.
When I first bought my dash cam, I tried a 32GB card. Based on personal experience, there's no fixed number for how many days it can record. It mainly depends on the resolution you set and your daily driving duration. Mine is set at 1080p quality, consuming about 10GB of space per hour of recording. After formatting, a 32GB memory card actually has about 28GB available, which can last up to three hours at most. I usually only commute to and from work, driving about half an hour each day, so the card can store about five to six days of footage. But if you set it to 720p, the capacity doubles, and so does the recording time. The dash cam has a loop recording feature, automatically overwriting old videos when full, so you don't have to worry about running out of space. You also need to consider whether parking monitoring is turned on—if it is, it records more static footage, reducing the available time. In the end, adjusting settings based on your personal driving habits is the most practical approach.
To calculate how many days a 32GB card can record, start with the video parameters. At 1080p resolution, a typical dash cam consumes about 12GB of data per hour, with a bitrate of approximately 8Mbps. A 32GB card has around 29GB of usable space, storing roughly 2.4 hours of footage. If you drive an hour daily, it'll last about two and a half days; two hours of driving reduces it to just over a day. Frame rate is also crucial—30fps saves half the space compared to 60fps. Compression formats like H.264 or H.265 have minimal impact, though H.265 is slightly more efficient. Check your dash cam's app settings to input precise parameters for accurate duration estimates. Also, clear old recordings before enabling loop mode to prevent lag. Don't expect a small card to last long on extended trips.
