Streaming
Streaming Bitrate Calculator
Pick your resolution, frame rate, codec and type of content. You get a recommended video bitrate, the upload speed it needs and the encoder settings to enter in OBS or any other encoder.
Your stream settings
Live recommendationMost games, IRL, vlogs, music
Your platform’s or encoder’s max video bitrate.
Recommended video bitrate
9,000kbps
Range 6,700–12,500 kbps
- Total with audio
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- Upload speed needed
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- Data per hour
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- Bits per pixel
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Encoder settings to enter
- Output resolution
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- Frame rate
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- Encoder
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- Rate control
- CBR
- Video bitrate
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- Keyframe interval
- 2 s
- Audio
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Common live-streaming defaults. Where your platform’s guidance differs, follow the platform.
Recommended bitrates by resolution
Medium-motion content (most games, IRL, vlogs), in kbps of video. For talking-head streams multiply by about 0.7; for fast shooters and sports, by about 1.35.
| Resolution | H.264 (AVC) | H.265 (HEVC) | AV1 | H.264 range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360p 30 · 640×360 | 1,100 kbps | 750 kbps | 650 kbps | 800–1,500 |
| 360p 60 · 640×360 | 1,800 kbps | 1,300 kbps | 1,100 kbps | 1,400–2,500 |
| 480p 30 · 854×480 | 1,700 kbps | 1,200 kbps | 1,000 kbps | 1,200–2,300 |
| 480p 60 · 854×480 | 2,800 kbps | 1,900 kbps | 1,700 kbps | 2,100–3,900 |
| 720p 30 · 1280×720 | 3,000 kbps | 2,100 kbps | 1,800 kbps | 2,300–4,200 |
| 720p 60 · 1280×720 | 5,000 kbps | 3,500 kbps | 3,000 kbps | 3,700–7,000 |
| 1080p 30 · 1920×1080 | 5,400 kbps | 3,800 kbps | 3,300 kbps | 4,100–7,600 |
| 1080p 60 · 1920×1080 | 9,000 kbps | 6,300 kbps | 5,400 kbps | 6,700–12,500 |
| 1440p 30 · 2560×1440 | 8,300 kbps | 5,800 kbps | 5,000 kbps | 6,200–11,500 |
| 1440p 60 · 2560×1440 | 13,500 kbps | 9,600 kbps | 8,200 kbps | 10,500–19,000 |
| 4K 30 · 3840×2160 | 15,000 kbps | 10,500 kbps | 9,000 kbps | 11,000–21,000 |
| 4K 60 · 3840×2160 | 24,500 kbps | 17,500 kbps | 15,000 kbps | 18,500–34,500 |
How to use the recommendation
- Check your limit. Many platforms cap how much bitrate they accept for a standard stream. Enter that cap in Bitrate limit and the calculator tells you the best resolution and frame rate that fit under it.
- Check your upload. The stream should use no more than about 75% of your measured upload speed. The upload speed calculator shows every setting your connection can carry.
- Prefer a clean lower resolution over a starved higher one. 720p60 at a healthy bitrate usually looks better than 1080p60 squeezed into the same bitrate.
- Test. Record a few minutes of your busiest content locally at the chosen bitrate and watch it back full-screen before going live.
Codecs
H.264 works with every platform and player. H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 reach similar quality with less bitrate (roughly 30% and 40% less here), but only where your platform, encoder and viewers support them. The exact saving depends on the encoder and preset.
Frequently asked questions
What bitrate should I stream at for 1080p60?
With H.264 and typical game footage, around 9,000 kbps looks good, and 6,700 kbps is a workable minimum. Many platforms cap standard streams lower than that, in which case a clean 720p60 often looks better than a starved 1080p60. HEVC or AV1 need roughly 30–40% less for similar quality.
Does a higher bitrate always look better?
Only up to a point. Once the encoder has enough bits for the content, extra bitrate adds little visible quality but costs viewers bandwidth and increases buffering risk. Past the "high quality" end of the range shown, gains are usually hard to see.
Should I use CBR or VBR for streaming?
Most live platforms recommend constant bitrate (CBR) because it keeps the upload steady and predictable. VBR and CRF are better suited to recordings and uploads, where file size matters more than a steady stream.
What keyframe interval should I use?
Two seconds is the common recommendation for live streaming. It lets platforms start playback quickly and switch quality levels cleanly.
Why do low-motion streams need less bitrate?
Video encoders only spend bits on what changes between frames. A talking head or a slideshow changes little, so it compresses well. Fast shooters, racing and sports change every pixel every frame and need much more.