What this bitrate calculator does

It gives you a practical place to begin when choosing a video bitrate. Resolution and frame rate increase the amount of detail that needs to be encoded. Newer codecs can often reach a similar result at a lower bitrate, but whether they work well depends on the platform and the people watching.

The file-size estimate is based on the selected video bitrate only. Audio, codec overhead, variable bitrate behaviour and metadata will change the finished file slightly.

For live streaming

Check your platform's current bitrate limit and leave enough upload-speed headroom. A stable lower setting is usually more watchable than an unstable high one.

For uploads

Platforms usually re-encode uploads. A clean source file helps, but sending a very large file does not always create a better final stream.

For recordings

Local recordings can use more bitrate because there is no live upload limit. Make sure the drive has enough space for longer sessions.

How to use the estimate

Start with the balanced result, make a short test export, then watch it in the places where quality normally breaks down: fast movement, text, game foliage, confetti, smoke and dark gradients. Move upward only if those areas look rough and your platform, connection and storage can handle it.

This is an estimate only. Check current platform documentation and your encoder settings before treating a value as a requirement.

Bitrate choices in plain English

Bitrate is the amount of data used for each second of video. More data can preserve more detail, but it also makes a larger file and needs a faster, steadier connection when you are live. Resolution tells you how many pixels are on screen, while frame rate tells you how often the image changes. A 4K video at 60 fps therefore needs far more data than a 720p video at 30 fps.

H.264 is widely supported, which makes it a safe starting choice. HEVC and AV1 can often look similar at lower bitrates, but not every editor, device or streaming platform supports them in the same way. The best setting also depends on the footage: a talking-head video is easier to compress than fast gameplay or a busy outdoor scene.

Connection headroom

For a live stream, avoid using all of your upload speed. Leave room for normal network variation so the stream is less likely to stutter or drop frames.

Audio adds a little

The file-size result covers video only. A music track, microphone audio and container overhead add a small amount to the finished file.

Keep a test clip

A short test clip with movement, text and darker areas makes it much easier to compare settings before an important upload or stream.