What size SD card does a 2K (1440p) front and rear dash cam need?
A 128GB card keeps a full 8-hour driving day from a 2K (1440p) front and rear dash cam at a typical 26 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 2K (1440p) front and rear camera writes about 11.7GB per hour at a typical 26 Mbps. Each extra 1080p channel adds about 10 Mbps, which is why the rear camera costs you roughly 38 percent of the loop.
| Hours to keep | Space needed | Card to buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 13 GB | 16GB |
| 2 h | 25 GB | 32GB |
| 4 h | 50 GB | 64GB |
| 8 h | 101 GB | 128GB |
| 12 h | 151 GB | 256GB |
| 24 h | 302 GB | 512GB |
How long does each card size last at this setting?
| Card | Loop length |
|---|---|
| 16GB | 1 h 16 min |
| 32GB | 2 h 33 min |
| 64GB | 5 h 5 min |
| 128GB | 10 h 10 min |
| 256GB | 20 h 21 min |
| 512GB | 40 h 42 min |
Cards and 2K (1440p) front and rear 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
Integral 128GB High Endurance microSD Card for CCTV, Dash Cam & Security Cameras, 4K...128GB / high endurance$38.95Check price on Amazon
Wireless Dash Cam Front and Rear 2K, WiFi APP Dash Camera for Cars with 1.5'' Screen...2K / 2 channel / Wi-Fi$34.99Check price on Amazon
THINKWARE Q200 Dash Cam 2K Front and Rear, Built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, ADAS, WDR2K / 2 channel / GPS / Wi-Fi$199.99Check price on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Is 128GB enough for a 2K (1440p) front and rear dash cam?
128GB holds about 10 h 10 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 3.3 MB per second. Endurance, not speed, is what decides how long a card lasts.