Bitrate Calculator

Resolution

1080p Bitrate Calculator

Pick a frame rate, codec and type of content for 1920×1080 video. You get the bitrate to use, how each codec compares, the upload a stream needs and YouTube and Twitch’s own 1080p numbers.

Your 1080p bitrate

Frame rate (fps)
Codec
Content

Most games, IRL, vlogs, music

Recommended video bitrate

—kbps

Required upload speed

—Mbps

Range (acceptable–high)
—
In Mbps
—
Video per hour
—
Compared with H.264
—

From our bitrate model; a starting point, not a guarantee. Test with your own footage.

Same quality in each codec

Video bitrate for this resolution, frame rate and content.

  • H.264 (AVC) —
  • H.265 (HEVC) —
  • AV1 —

HEVC and AV1 need less bitrate for the same picture, but only where your encoder, platform and viewers’ devices support them.

ffmpeg command at this bitrate

Operating system

A two-pass encode hits the average bitrate accurately. Run both lines in order and rename input.mp4 to your file. 

  
 
    
 
 
1080p bitrates by frame rate and codec
 
Medium-motion content, video only, from our bitrate model.
 
 
  
 Resolution H.264 (AVC)H.265 (HEVC)AV1 H.264 range 
   
  1080p 24 · 1920×1080   4,600 kbps
 3,200 kbps
 2,800 kbps
  3,500–6,500  
  1080p 25 · 1920×1080   4,700 kbps
 3,300 kbps
 2,800 kbps
  3,600–6,600  
  1080p 30 · 1920×1080   5,400 kbps
 3,800 kbps
 3,300 kbps
  4,100–7,600  
  1080p 50 · 1920×1080   7,900 kbps
 5,500 kbps
 4,700 kbps
  5,900–11,000  
  1080p 60 · 1920×1080   9,000 kbps
 6,300 kbps
 5,400 kbps
  6,700–12,500  
  1080p 120 · 1920×1080   15,000 kbps
 10,500 kbps
 9,000 kbps
  11,000–21,000  
  
 
 
 
 
What YouTube and Twitch recommend for 1080p
 
As published by each platform. Their figures take priority over the model when you stream or upload there.
 
 
  
Platform1080p301080p60Notes
   
 YouTube live 10 Mbps 12 Mbps H.264; HEVC and AV1 can go lower 
 YouTube upload (SDR) 8 Mbps 12 Mbps 24–30 fps / 48–60 fps 
 YouTube upload (HDR) 10 Mbps 15 Mbps 24–30 fps / 48–60 fps 
 Twitch 4,500 kbps 6,000 kbps 6,000 kbps maximum 
  
 
 
  
 
 
Frequently asked questions
 
 
  What bitrate should I use for 1080p?   
 
For H.264 and typical content, about 5,400 kbps at 30 fps and 9,000 kbps at 60 fps. YouTube recommends 10 Mbps (1080p30) and 12 Mbps (1080p60) for live streams; Twitch caps streams at 6,000 kbps.
 
 
  What bitrate does 1080p60 need?   
 
About 1.7 times 1080p30, not double: consecutive frames are similar, so compression gets more efficient as the frame rate rises. Fast games and sports need the top of the range.
 
 
  What is the best bitrate for 1080p on Twitch?   
 
6,000 kbps, the maximum for standard streams. That suits 1080p30 well; 1080p60 of fast games can look soft at 6,000 kbps, which is why many streamers choose 720p60 instead.
 
 
  What bitrate should I upload 1080p to YouTube at?   
 
YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24–30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48–60 fps (SDR). Uploading higher is fine; YouTube re-encodes everything.
 
 
  How big is an hour of 1080p video?   
 
At 8,000 kbps, about 3.6 GB per hour; at 12,000 kbps, about 5.4 GB. The calculator shows the size for your bitrate.