8K video can use about 0.10 TB per hour for a heavily compressed camera mode, roughly 0.23–0.48 TB per hour for the cited Sony XAVC H modes, 0.28–3.06 TB per hour across 24p ProRes variants, and 7.64 TB per hour for ProRes 4444 XQ at 60p. Name the codec, resolution, and frame rate before using any 8K estimate.
For a published fixed or target bitrate:
decimal GB/hour = Mb/s × 3,600 ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000
Equivalently, TB/hour ≈ Mb/s ÷ 2,222. These are theoretical bitrate conversions. Actual files can vary with codec behavior, scene complexity, containers, audio, and metadata.
A sourced 8K storage table
ITU-R BT.2020 defines 8K UHD as 7680×4320. Apple's ProRes tables use 8192×4320, while Sony's cited Long-GOP row uses 7680×4320. That resolution difference matters, so each row keeps the vendor's assumption.
| 8K format | Published bitrate assumption | Per minute | Per hour | |---|---:|---:|---:| | Canon R5 8K IPB Light | Canon approximately 230 Mb/s | approximately 1.7 GB | approximately 0.10 TB | | XAVC H Long, 7680×4320/24p | Sony 520 Mb/s | approximately 3.9 GB | approximately 0.23 TB | | ProRes 422 Proxy, 8192×4320/24p | Apple target 622 Mb/s | approximately 4.7 GB | 0.28 TB | | XAVC H Intra HQ, 8192×4320/24p | Sony 1,056 Mb/s | approximately 7.9 GB | approximately 0.48 TB | | Canon R5 8K RAW | Canon approximately 2,600 Mb/s | approximately 19.5 GB by bitrate | approximately 1.17 TB by bitrate | | ProRes 422 HQ, 8192×4320/24p | Apple target 3,017 Mb/s | approximately 22.6 GB | 1.36 TB | | ProRes 4444 XQ, 8192×4320/24p | Apple target 6,788 Mb/s | approximately 50.9 GB | 3.06 TB | | ProRes 4444 XQ, 8192×4320/60p | Apple target 16,970 Mb/s | approximately 127.3 GB | 7.64 TB |
Apple provides target data rates and approximate storage figures. Sony and Canon describe their own modes and assumptions. The Canon chart also publishes approximate per-minute figures that can differ slightly from simple bitrate conversion; use the camera's current documentation when card capacity is critical.
Why 8K is roughly four times 4K
7680×4320 contains four times the pixels of 3840×2160. At a matched codec and frame rate, Apple's data confirms the rule: ProRes 422 HQ/24p is 754 Mb/s at 4096×2160 and 3,017 Mb/s at 8192×4320, approximately four times higher.
Codec can outweigh that resolution rule. Sony's 520 Mb/s XAVC H Long example is much smaller than ProRes 422 HQ at 3,017 Mb/s, even though both are 8K-class formats. Long-GOP, intra-frame, raw, and mezzanine formats serve different acquisition and post-production needs; the smallest file is not automatically the correct production choice.
Frame rate is another direct multiplier. ProRes 4444 XQ rises from 6,788 Mb/s at 24p to 16,970 Mb/s at 60p. High-frame-rate coverage can therefore dominate a day's storage even when most scenes use 24p.
Plan a shoot day, not one hour
An illustrative three-hour 8K ProRes 422 HQ/24p day is:
3 × 1,358 GB = 4,074 GB, or about 4.07 decimal TB.
Two protected original copies require about 8.15 TB before proxies, audio, reports, sidecars, and headroom. This is a stated planning scenario, not a universal backup policy. Multiple cameras and high shooting ratios increase it linearly.
Do not confuse decimal TB with binary TiB. Storage vendors generally advertise decimal capacity; some operating systems report binary units. Also test real camera clips when using variable-bitrate or constant-quality modes because no single bitrate can represent every scene.
Convert capacity into a transfer window
In the current calculator model, 4.074 TB at 1 Gbps takes about 10 h 8 m for one network leg. Upload at 500 Mbps plus download at 1 Gbps takes about 30 h 25 m. These modeled values use decimal TB and a 12% planning allowance. They are not measured product performance.
At this scale, shipping can still be correct. Compare copy-on, courier, copy-off, and verification against both online legs with the shipping calculator. A hybrid can send proxies first while originals continue online or travel on physical media.
For adjacent planning, use the 4K storage guide, raw-size explanation, and 4K/8K movement workflow. The delivery-night checklist covers packaging, ownership, and verification.
Where TeraAirlift fits
TeraAirlift is a Windows-first desktop operations console for large file and folder delivery, with queue state, progress, ETA, cancellation, retry-friendly operations, history, diagnostics, recipient controls, and SHA-256 verification. Those controls help operators manage multi-hour 8K jobs; they do not guarantee throughput or replace the customer's archive. See the post-production transfer page.
