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To calculate PoE power needs, list each camera and access point by exact model, multiply its documented maximum power draw by the number of units, and add the results. Then check two separate limits: whether the switch has enough total PoE availability for all devices, and whether each individual port supplies the standard and power that its assigned device requires.
1. Build an inventory using exact device models
There is no reliable single wattage for “a camera” or “an access point.” Power depends on the model, its features, and sometimes its operating mode. Create one row for each model and record:
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- Model and quantity.
- Maximum and typical power draw, with the conditions stated in the datasheet.
- Minimum PoE standard or type required.
- Any reduced-power mode the manufacturer supports, including what functionality it disables.
For cameras, check whether the stated draw assumes infrared illumination (IR), a heater, or other power-consuming features are active. Axis says its camera datasheets specify typical and maximum consumption; use the maximum when the camera must run all required features concurrently. See Axis’s guide to typical and maximum camera power consumption.
Why typical draw may be too low for sizing
Axis’s December 2025 example lists 12.6 W maximum and 4.7 W typical, with the typical scenario measured with the heater and IR off. The typical number describes that scenario; it is not a safe substitute if the installation needs those features to operate. Use the documented maximum for a full-feature design, or explicitly document the reduced-feature assumption.
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2. Calculate the aggregate device load
For each inventory row, multiply quantity by the chosen per-device design draw, then add the row totals:
Aggregate load = Σ (quantity of each model × its design draw per device)
For example, if a plan includes 6 cameras whose applicable maximum is 12.6 W each and 2 access points whose applicable maximum is 30.5 W each, the arithmetic is (6 × 12.6 W) + (2 × 30.5 W) = 136.6 W. This is an illustration of the calculation, not a claim that those figures apply to other models or configurations.
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Use figures measured at the same point in the power path when possible. A device’s draw at the powered-device (PD) end and a switch’s power budget at the power-sourcing-equipment (PSE) end are not interchangeable: cable and delivery losses mean the PSE must source more than the PD receives.
3. Check the switch’s total PoE availability
PoE availability is the switch’s aggregate power that can be distributed among connected clients. Compare your calculated requirement, using the appropriate PSE-side figure, with the switch’s stated total PoE availability. A switch can have enough aggregate watts overall and still fail to power a particular endpoint because its assigned port lacks the required capability.
For a concrete example, Ubiquiti’s USW-Pro-24-PoE datasheet states 400 W total PoE availability and identifies separate PoE+ and PoE++ port groups. That illustrates why the total budget and the port mix must both be checked; it is not a universal switch recommendation. See the USW-Pro-24-PoE datasheet and Ubiquiti’s explanation of PoE availability and modes.
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4. Verify each port’s PoE standard and usable power
IEEE PoE figures are commonly shown at both ends of the link. The PSE figure is what the switch or injector can source; the PD figure is the maximum available to the endpoint after delivery. These are standard-mode maxima, not estimates of what a specific camera or access point will consume.
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| PoE type | Maximum at PSE | Maximum available at PD |
|---|---|---|
| 802.3af / Type 1 | 15.4 W | 12.95 W |
| 802.3at / Type 2 | 30 W | 25.5 W |
| 802.3bt / Type 3 | 60 W | 51 W |
| 802.3bt / Type 4 | 100 W | 71 W |
These standard figures are from Ubiquiti’s PoE modes reference. Axis’s quick guide to Axis datasheets also distinguishes guaranteed PSE levels from maximum PD levels. When comparing a device datasheet with a switch specification, make sure the two values refer to the same end of the link.
Access-point example: power can change what the AP can do
Cisco’s Catalyst 9166 datasheet specifies up to 30.5 W with 802.3bt and 25.5 W with 802.3at. With 802.3af, it allows only a staging configuration with radios off. In other words, an AP that powers on is not necessarily operating with its intended functionality. Check the exact AP’s supported modes and required power, rather than treating basic PoE compatibility as proof that all features will work. Cisco also says to enable CDP or LLDP for proper power negotiation where applicable. See the Catalyst 9166 Series Access Points datasheet.
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5. Match the schedule to the switch before buying or installing
For every planned device, confirm that its assigned port supplies the required PoE type and sufficient power at the appropriate end of the link. Also verify that the switch can deliver the sum of the connected devices’ requirements at once. A switch’s total wattage does not make every port a high-power port.
- Aggregate budget: Is the total switch PoE availability sufficient for the planned concurrent load?
- Port capability: Does each selected port support the endpoint’s required IEEE level and power?
- Device operation: Will the camera’s IR or heater, or the AP’s required radios and features, work in that power mode?
- Negotiation: Does the AP require CDP or LLDP for correct power negotiation, and is it enabled in the applicable deployment?
If a device schedule exceeds the switch’s total availability or a port’s capability, choose a switch with a suitable budget and port mix, use a compatible injector or midspan where appropriate, or use a manufacturer-supported reduced-function mode only if its trade-offs are acceptable. For an injector or midspan, match its IEEE type and output to the endpoint documentation.
6. Treat reserve capacity as an explicit design choice
The cited device and standards specifications do not establish one reserve percentage that is appropriate for every installation. If you plan spare capacity for future devices, uncertainty, or operating changes, record that as a design choice in addition to the calculated load; do not present an arbitrary percentage as a universal PoE rule.
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