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1. Find the power requirement for each device
Use the current datasheet for the exact camera or access point model. Record its maximum power draw and, where provided, its typical draw and the conditions for that figure. There is no single reliable wattage for all cameras or access points: model, features and operating mode change the requirement.
Cameras: account for the features that will be active
Infrared illumination, heaters and other options can affect a camera’s draw. Axis says its camera datasheets specify typical and maximum consumption. For example, Axis reports 12.6 W maximum and 4.7 W typical for one scenario with the heater and IR off; the typical figure describes that stated condition, not the camera’s full-feature maximum. See Axis’s December 2025 white paper on typical and maximum camera power consumption.
Access points: check what each power mode allows
An access point may draw different power, or offer different functionality, depending on its PoE supply. Cisco’s Catalyst 9166 data sheet lists up to 30.5 W with 802.3bt and 25.5 W with 802.3at; 802.3af allows only a staging configuration with the radios off. These are model-specific figures, not a general access-point allowance. Cisco also says to enable CDP or LLDP for proper power negotiation where applicable. Check the relevant AP documentation for its required standard, allowed modes and negotiation needs. See Cisco’s Catalyst 9166 Series data sheet.
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2. Calculate the aggregate load
Make one row for each device model. Multiply the quantity by the per-device design draw, then add the rows. Use maximum draw when all intended features may operate at the same time. If you instead size around typical draw or a restricted mode, document the conditions and accept the associated feature limitations.
| Device | Quantity | Design draw per device | Row load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera model A | 3 | 12.6 W maximum, if that is the applicable documented feature state | 3 × 12.6 W = 37.8 W |
| Access point model B | 2 | 25.5 W maximum with 802.3at, for the Cisco Catalyst 9166 example | 2 × 25.5 W = 51 W |
| Total | 88.8 W |
The arithmetic illustrates the method; the camera value applies only to the cited Axis example, and the AP value only to the cited Cisco model and power mode. For an actual installation, replace them with the figures for your own device models and planned operating states.
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3. Check the switch’s total PoE budget
Compare the aggregate requirement with the switch’s stated PoE availability: the total power it can distribute among connected clients. Do not assume that the power printed on the switch’s power supply is the available PoE budget; use the manufacturer’s specified PoE availability for that model.
As an example of the distinction, Ubiquiti lists 400 W total PoE availability for the USW-Pro-24-PoE. That figure is a switch-wide pool, not a promise that any one port can deliver 400 W. See the USW-Pro-24-PoE data sheet and Ubiquiti’s explanation of PoE availability and modes.
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4. Check every port against its device
For each endpoint, confirm that its assigned port supports the required IEEE PoE type and sufficient power. The switch’s total budget and each port’s capability are separate checks: a sufficient aggregate budget cannot make an under-capable port supply a higher PoE type.
Also compare like with like. The switch is the power sourcing equipment (PSE); the camera or AP is the powered device (PD). Standard figures are stated at both ends of the cable, and the PD receives less than the PSE supplies:
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| PoE standard/type | Maximum at PSE | Maximum available to 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 are standard-mode maximums, not predictions of an endpoint’s actual draw. A device’s stated draw and a switch’s available output must be compared using the manufacturer’s stated PSE/PD basis. See Axis’s quick guide to reading datasheets and Ubiquiti’s PoE modes reference.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Choose a switch or injector that passes both checks
When selecting equipment, compare the total budget with the sum you calculated, then make sure the port mix can power each endpoint at its required level. Check negotiation support if an AP requires CDP or LLDP, and count a lower-power mode only if its operating restrictions are acceptable. The USW-Pro-24-PoE illustrates why both the overall budget and individual port types matter; its 400 W aggregate availability does not make its port groups interchangeable.
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If the switch falls short, options include a switch with a suitable total budget and port mix, a compatible injector or midspan for a limited number of endpoints, or a documented reduced-function mode supported by the endpoint. Match any injector or midspan to the device’s required IEEE type and maximum power rather than relying on the product label alone.
6. Use a practical design reserve
The cited standards and manufacturer data do not establish one reserve percentage that fits every installation. If you plan headroom for future devices, changing configurations or uncertainty in simultaneous loads, treat that reserve as an explicit design choice—not as a universal PoE rule. Keep it separate from the documented device load so the calculation remains auditable.
Quick Recap
PoE sizing checklist
- Record the exact model and quantity of every camera and access point.
- Use the documented maximum for each planned feature state; note conditions attached to typical figures.
- Multiply per-device design draw by quantity and sum all device rows.
- Check that the switch’s total PoE availability meets the aggregate requirement.
- Verify the IEEE type and power support of every assigned port.
- Compare PSE and PD figures on the same basis, and confirm any required CDP/LLDP negotiation.
- Recheck the current datasheets for the exact endpoint and switch revisions before deployment.
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