Do you have a 32GB SD Card and want to know how many hours of video can hold?
In this article, I will explain you how many videos can be stored on a 32 GB SD card.
To start with, I am going to present you the various factors that affect the size of the videos shot on your camera.
What Factors Affect Video Size?
Main 6 factors that really affect video size are:
1. Video Quality
The video quality affects the file size. If the video is a better quality, the file will be bigger. But it is not just the quality of the video that decides how big the file will be. The frame rate (or how many frames per second) is also important. For example, if you have a one minute long video, it would have the same file size whether it was 1080p/120fps or 4K/60fps.
2. Video Length
The longer the video, the bigger it is. For example, a two-minute video would be twice as big as a one-minute video with the same quality.
3. Format
The amount of space a video takes up is called its “size.” Different video formats use different amounts of space. Some common video formats include AVI, MOV, and MP4. GoPro cameras shoot videos in MP4 format.
4. Video Bitrate
The video bitrate is how many bits are captured in the video file per second – Mbps. A higher bitrate usually means that the video quality is better, and therefore, the size of the video is also larger. For 4K shots, the video bitrate on a GoPro camera is usually anywhere between 60-100 Mbps, depending upon the frame rate (fps). For 1080p HD videos, it goes to around 45-78 Mbps. Also, please note that when Protune is on, the bitrate may be slightly higher.
5. Frame Rate
The size of the video gets bigger when the frame rate goes up. The file size of a video almost doubles if the frame rate goes above 30fps for 4K videos or 60fps for 1080p videos.
6. Other Files
There are extra files on your camera besides the video files. These include photo files because most people shoot photos alongside videos too. In addition, GoPro cameras also create LRV and THM files, which also use space on your SD card. Therefore, while thinking about how many videos you can store on your GoPro camera, you also have to consider the space held by these additional files.
The Amount of Video a 32GB SD Card Can Hold?
How many videos can you store on your 32GB microSD card?
It depends on the resolution and frame rate. The video lengths below are approximate, the actual length of video that you get using different resolutions may vary a little bit.
Here’s how many videos a 32GB Memory Card can hold:
1080p – 120/240 FPS
At 120 or 240 FPS, you can store a total of 57.6 minutes (0.96 Hours) of 1080p HD video with a 32GB SD card in your GoPro camera.
Number of Videos: 19 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
1080p – 24/30/60 FPS
You can store 1.92 hours of video on your GoPro camera with a 32GB SD card inserted in it when using a 1080p HD resolution at 24, 30, or 60 FPS frame rates.
Number of Videos: 38 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
1440p – 60/120 FPS
When shooting in 1440p resolution and using a frame rate of either 60 or 120 FPS, you can store up to 57.6 minutes (0.96 Hours) of video on your GoPro camera with a 32GB SD card inserted in it.
Number of Videos: 19 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
1440p – 24/30 FPS
The 1440p resolution lets you store 115.2 minutes (1.92 hours) of video on your GoPro camera with a 32GB SD card when you use 24 or 30 FPS frame rates.
Number of Videos: 38 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
2.7K – 60/120 FPS
At 60 or 120 FPS, you can store a total of 57.6 minutes (0.96 Hours) of 2.7K video on a 32GB SD card inserted in your GoPro camera.
Number of Videos: 19 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
2.7K – 24/30 FPS
When you use 2.7K resolution and a frame rate of 24 or 30 FPS, you can store 115.2 minutes (1.92 hours) of video on your GoPro camera with a 32GB SD card in it.
Number of Videos: 38 (average length per video – 3 minutes)
4K – 24/30/60 FPS
With a 32GB SD card, you can store 57.6 minutes of 4K resolution video on your GoPro camera at 24, 30, or 60 FPS frame rates.
Number of Videos: 19 (Avg. length per video – 3 minutes)
Maximum Video Bitrates of Different GoPro Types
The amount of data that a video uses is called the bitrate. A higher bitrate means that the video will be a higher quality, but it will also take up more space on your SD card.
Here are the maximum video bitrates for all the GoPro cams:
- GoPro Hero 5 Black: 60 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 6 Black: 78 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 7 Black: 78 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 7 Silver: 60 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 7 White: 40 Mbps
- GoPro Max: 78 Mbps
- Hero 8 Black: 100Mbps
- GoPro Fusion: 120 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 9 Black: 100 Mbps
- GoPro Hero 10 Black: 100 Mbps
What 32GB SD Card Should You Buy?
Now that you know how many videos you can expect to store on a 32GB SD card, let’s discuss which ones are some of the best microSD cards that you can buy. Have in mind, you’ll need microSD card for all the GoPro models.
This is the list of 5 best 32GB microSD cards on the market:
#1. Delkin Devices 32GB Select microSD Card
- Supports Full HD 1080p Video Recording
- Time-Lapse, Photo-Burst, Protune & HDR Ready
- Read/Write Speeds: 100/30 MB/s
#2. SanDisk Extreme 32GB microSD Card
- Up to 60MB/s write speeds for fast shooting (Based on internal testing; performance...
- Up to 100MB/s read speeds to save time transferring high-res images and 4K UHD videos...
- Capture stunning 4K and 5K UHD video (Compatible device required. Full HD...
#3. Lexar Professional 633x 32GB microSD Card
#4. Samsung EVO Select 32GB microSD Card
- Up to 80MB/s transfer speed
- Works with Cell phones, Smartphones, Android Tablets, Tablet PCs, and more.
- High-performance up to 80MB/s for full HD video recording, high resolution pictures,...
#5. PNY Elite 32GB microSD Card
- Class 10, U1 speed rating, with read speeds up to 100MB/s
- Class 10 : UHS I, U1 speed Class performance allows for fast and smooth continuous HD...
- Record and transfer videos, photos, music, files and more from Android smartphones...
Find the list of the best 32GB SD cards by clicking the link.
How Many Videos Do You Want To Store?
The amount of space on your SD card matters a lot when it comes to video. Today, people use high resolutions (4K/5K), higher frame rates, and video bitrates as much as 100Mbps. This means that the size of videos recorded by the latest GoPro cameras has increased significantly.
Therefore, using a 32GB SD card with your GoPro may not be enough for your needs. As described above, you can store only about 19 4K videos in a 32GB memory card – that too if you assume that your SD card doesn’t have any other file in it. That’s too little for most users. So, consider upgrading to an SD card with at least 128 GB of storage space if you don’t want to see that annoying ‘Storage Full’ signal often.
If you consider purchasing bigger SD card and want to know its capacity read:
How Many Pictures a 64gb SD Card CAN Hold (RAW + JPEG)
How Many Pictures a 128gb SD Card CAN Hold (RAW + JPEG)
Thank you for reading this guide! I hope that it was helpful in teaching you everything you need to know about how much 32 GB Sd card can hold.
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