Choosing between 4MP and 1080p is the most common resolution decision for a new CCTV system. Both are mainstream, affordable, and supported by every modern NVR — but they are not interchangeable. 1080p (2MP) is enough for close, well-lit indoor areas, while 4MP (1440p) gives you extra reach and detail for entrances, driveways, and open rooms without the storage cost of 4K.
The quick answer
If your budget allows, default to 4MP for outdoor and perimeter cameras and use 1080p only for constrained indoor spaces. The detail gain is real and the storage penalty is mild.
Pixel count and what it means
1080p captures 1920 × 1080 = about 2.1 million pixels. 4MP captures 2560 × 1440 = about 4.1 million pixels. The extra ~2 million pixels are mostly vertical and horizontal detail: you can read a license plate or a face label from farther away, and digital zoom stays usable instead of turning into a blur.
This matters most when an incident happens at the edge of the frame. A 1080p camera that "sees" a person at 30 feet may not resolve their face; a 4MP camera at the same spot usually will.
Identification distance (DORI)
Surveillance cameras are rated with DORI (Detect, Observe, Recognize, Identify) distances. For a typical 4mm lens:
- 1080p: identify a face at roughly 15-25 feet.
- 4MP: identify a face at roughly 20-35 feet.
So 4MP effectively extends your useful identification range by about 30-40% for the same lens and mounting height. If your cameras cover a pathway or parking area where subjects are 20+ feet away, 4MP is the safer choice.
Low-light performance
Resolution and night vision are different things. Low-light quality depends on sensor size and pixel size, not megapixel count. On an identical sensor, 1080p has larger pixels than 4MP, so it collects more light per pixel and usually produces cleaner night footage.
Practical guidance:
- Dark indoor hallway with no extra light → a Starlight 1080p camera often beats a basic 4MP camera.
- Covered porch or lit driveway → 4MP is the better all-rounder.
- Always check the sensor size (1/2.8", 1/1.8", etc.) and look for Starlight or ColorVu technology rather than trusting the megapixel number alone.
Storage and bandwidth
4MP records about 30-40% more data than 1080p. As a rule of thumb with H.265 compression:
- 1080p continuous: ~12-18 GB/day per camera.
- 4MP continuous: ~18-28 GB/day per camera.
For a system of eight cameras recording 24/7, that difference is roughly 50-80 GB/day — enough to matter when sizing an NVR hard drive. Enabling motion-only recording cuts both figures by 60-70%, which narrows the gap considerably.
How to choose per location
- Front door / entrance: 4MP. You want to resolve faces and packages clearly.
- Driveway / street-facing: 4MP, ideally with a Starlight sensor for night.
- Living room / small office: 1080p is plenty at close range.
- Warehouse aisle or retail floor: 4MP for wider coverage and detail.
- Hallway / stairwell (poorly lit): a Starlight 1080p camera.
Related guides
- See our IP Camera Resolution Guide for the full 2MP-to-4K breakdown.
- Comparing the top tier instead? Read 4K vs 5MP.
- Planning the install? Our PoE NVR setup guide covers cabling and storage sizing.
- Deciding on the recorder itself? See NVR vs DVR.