Video Bitrate Calculator
Pick a resolution and frame rate to see a recommended SDR upload bitrate in megabits per second. The values follow published streaming guidelines for standard and high frame rates.
How to choose a video bitrate
- Select your output resolution from 720p up to 4K.
- Enter your frame rate, such as 30 or 60.
- Read the recommended upload bitrate in Mbps and use it as your export target.
Examples
1080p at 30 fps
1080p, 30 fps
8 Mbps recommended
4K at 60 fps
4k, 60 fps
68 Mbps recommended
Frequently asked questions
Where do these bitrate values come from?
They follow YouTube's published recommended upload encoding settings for standard dynamic range video. Frame rates of 30 or below use the standard rates and rates above 30 use the high-frame-rate rates.
Is a higher bitrate always better?
Beyond the recommended range the visual gain shrinks while upload time and storage grow. These figures are a strong default that balances quality against file size for most footage.
Why does 60 fps need more bitrate than 30 fps?
Twice the frames means roughly twice the motion data per second, so a higher bitrate is needed to keep detail sharp during fast movement.
Are these for SDR or HDR?
These are standard dynamic range targets. HDR uploads generally need a higher bitrate, so treat these numbers as a floor if you are mastering in HDR.
Do these apply outside YouTube?
They are a good general baseline for most platforms and self-hosted video. Some services publish their own recommendations, so check the target platform if it differs.
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