The short answer
1080p (2MP) is fine for close-range coverage like a porch, while 4K (8MP) gives the extra detail needed to identify faces or read number plates at a distance — so the resolution you need depends on the area each camera watches. 1080p resolves around two million pixels and produces a clear picture for nearby scenes, but detail falls off as the subject gets further away or you zoom in. 4K resolves about four times the pixels, holding detail across a wider area and letting you make out a face down a drive or a plate at the gate. The trade-off is that 4K footage uses much more storage and a little more bandwidth, and needs cameras and a recorder that support it. Match resolution to the job rather than buying the highest everywhere.
Resolution decides whether footage merely shows that something happened or actually identifies who or what. The sections below explain the difference between 1080p and 4K and where each makes sense.
1080p vs 4K
- 1080p≈2MP (1920×1080)
- 4K≈8MP (3840×2160)
- 1080p best forClose range (porch, doorway)
- 4K best forDistance, faces, number plates
- 4K trade-offMuch more storage needed
What the numbers mean
Resolution is the number of pixels a camera captures, and more pixels mean more detail. 1080p ("Full HD") is 1920×1080, roughly two megapixels; 4K ("Ultra HD") is 3840×2160, roughly eight megapixels — about four times as many. The practical effect is how much detail survives across the scene and when you zoom in. At close range both look clear, but as a subject moves further from the camera the available pixels are spread over more distance, so a 1080p image of someone at the end of a drive may show that a person is there without enough detail to identify them, where 4K can hold that detail.
It is worth knowing that resolution is not the only factor: the lens, sensor quality, lighting and night vision all affect whether footage is usable. A well-lit 1080p image can beat a poor 4K one in darkness. But all else equal, more megapixels give more identifiable detail and more room to digitally zoom after the event.
Detail, range and the storage cost
The honest way to choose is by distance and purpose. For a close, contained scene — a porch, a doorway, a hallway — 1080p usually gives all the detail you need and keeps storage modest. For distance or identification — a long driveway, reading a number plate at the gate, recognising a face across the garden — 4K's extra pixels make the difference between "someone was there" and "that is who it was". Wider-angle cameras especially benefit from 4K, because the pixels are spread across more scene.
The cost of 4K is mainly storage: higher-resolution footage produces much larger files, so a 4K system needs a substantially bigger hard drive than a 1080p one to keep the same number of days, and it uses a little more bandwidth for remote viewing. Both also need matching kit — a 4K camera needs a recorder that supports 4K. The table contrasts them.
| Aspect | 1080p (2MP) | 4K (8MP) |
|---|---|---|
| Pixels | ≈2 million | ≈8 million |
| Best use | Close range | Distance / wide areas |
| Identify faces at distance | Limited | Stronger |
| Read number plates | Close only | Further away |
| Storage needed | Lower | Much higher |
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
Indicative comparison for guidance. Sources: manufacturer specifications, Which?.
Mixing resolutions and getting usable footage
You do not have to choose one resolution for the whole house. A practical approach is to mix: put 4K where identification matters — the driveway, the front approach, the main gate — and 1080p where the scene is close and contained, such as a porch or a side door, saving storage where the extra detail adds little. This targets your budget and disk space at the cameras that need them. Remember that a higher number is wasted if the camera is poorly positioned, dirty, facing into glare, or struggling in darkness, so placement, weatherproofing and night vision deserve as much attention as the megapixel count.
To get footage that is actually usable as evidence, aim a camera so the subject passes through the part of the frame where pixels are densest (closer to the camera), keep lenses clean, avoid pointing into bright light or low evening sun, and check that night-vision range covers the distance you care about. Size the recorder's hard drive for the resolution and the number of days you want to keep — under-sizing it means 4K footage overwrites itself quickly. In short, pick the resolution that lets each camera do its job at its distance: enough to identify, not simply the highest you can buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1080p good enough for home CCTV?
For close-range areas like a porch, doorway or hallway, 1080p usually gives enough detail and keeps storage modest. It is less able to identify faces or read number plates at a distance, where 4K's extra pixels help. Match the resolution to how far away the subjects you care about will be.
Does 4K CCTV use more storage?
Yes, considerably. 4K footage has about four times the pixels of 1080p, so files are much larger. A 4K system needs a substantially bigger hard drive to keep the same number of days, and uses a little more bandwidth for remote viewing. Size the recorder's storage for the resolution you choose.
Do I need 4K to read a number plate?
It depends on distance. At very close range a 1080p camera can capture a plate, but reading plates further away — across a driveway or at a gate — is where 4K's extra detail helps. Positioning, lighting and the camera's angle to the plate matter as much as resolution for a clear, usable capture.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property and system. They are guidance, not a quotation.