CCTV Pixels Per Foot Calculator
Will your camera actually capture a usable face or license plate — or just a blur? Enter the resolution and how wide a view it covers. PPF tells you the truth before you mount anything.
Calculate your PPF
PPF reference chart
| PPF | Level | What you actually get |
|---|---|---|
| 60–80+ | Identify+ | Faces & plates in hard conditions (night, motion) |
| 40–60 | Identify | Court-usable ID of an unknown person |
| 20–40 | Recognize | Tell who a known person is |
| 10–20 | Observe | Clothing, actions, direction — not a positive ID |
| <10 | Detect | Something moved. That's it. |
Rule of thumb: PPF = horizontal pixels ÷ scene width (ft). A 4K camera spread across a whole parking lot can be worse for ID than a 2MP camera tight on a door.
One camera can't do both jobs
Wide = context
A wide lens shows the whole scene but spreads pixels thin. Great for what happened — useless for who did it.
Tight = identity
A narrow view at a door or gate concentrates pixels where faces pass. That's your evidence camera.
Pros pair them
Professional layouts put overview + identify cameras together. Our free Camera Placement Tool shows the cones on your real property.
PPF questions
What is pixels per foot?
How many horizontal pixels land on each foot of your scene — the standard measure of whether footage can identify a face or read a plate. PPF = horizontal resolution ÷ scene width in feet.
How many PPF for a face or plate?
40+ PPF for reliable identification, 60–80+ for plates at night or moving targets. 20–40 recognizes a known person; under 20 you're only observing activity.
How do I raise PPF without a new camera?
Narrow the view — longer lens or closer mount — so the same pixels cover fewer feet. Use our lens calculator to find the right mm for your distance.
Want the angles designed for you?
Hi-Tech designs identify + overview coverage for Cleveland, Akron and Canton properties — free plan review, no obligation.