YouTube export size calculator
YouTube Help recommends a bitrate for each resolution and frame rate: 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24–30 fps, for example, which makes a 10-minute video with stereo audio about 629 MB. Set yours to see the size and the upload time.
Calculate your export size
Frame rate
Dynamic range
Audio
629 MB
- Video bitrate
- 8 Mbps
- Audio bitrate
- 384 kbps
- YouTube’s limit
- 256 GB or 12 hours
Where the numbers come from
The bitrates are YouTube Help’s recommended upload bitrates: one column for 24, 25 and 30 fps, one for 48, 50 and 60 fps, with separate tables for SDR and HDR, and 128, 384 or 512 kbps for mono, stereo or 5.1 audio. YouTube Help says variable bitrate is recommended and no bitrate limit is required.
Size is the video and audio bitrate added together, times the length. The full tables, and the rest of YouTube’s recommended encoding, are on the YouTube specs page.
Source: YouTube Help: YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked .
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Questions
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What bitrate does YouTube recommend for 1080p?
YouTube Help recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24, 25 or 30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48, 50 or 60 fps; for HDR, 10 and 15 Mbps.
What about 4K?
YouTube Help recommends 35–45 Mbps for 4K at 24–30 fps and 53–68 Mbps at 48–60 fps; for HDR, 44–56 and 66–85 Mbps.
How is the size worked out?
Video bitrate plus audio bitrate, times the length. A 10-minute 1080p30 video with stereo audio comes to about 629 MB. The MP4 container adds a little on top.
Do I have to use these bitrates?
No. YouTube Help calls them recommendations and says no bitrate limit is required. Use variable bitrate, as it recommends.
Why is there no HDR option below 720p?
YouTube Help lists HDR bitrates for 720p and up only, and marks 480p and 360p HDR as not supported.