Bitrate drives streaming bandwidth, recording quality, and storage. Enter your format below for the uncompressed rate and an estimated delivery bitrate after compression.
How to calculate video bitrate
The uncompressed rate is width x height x frame rate x bits per pixel, divided by a million for Mbps, where bits per pixel is the bit depth times three. A codec compresses that by a large factor for delivery. The estimates here use rough average ratios, so confirm with a test encode of your footage.
Typical delivery bitrates (H.264, guidance)
| Format | Approx delivery bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p30 | ~5 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | ~10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | ~16 Mbps |
| 4K30 | ~35 to 45 Mbps |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate video bitrate?
Uncompressed = width x height x fps x bits per pixel / 1e6 Mbps, with bits per pixel = bit depth x 3. A codec then compresses it to the delivery bitrate.
What is a good bitrate for 1080p?
For H.264, 1080p30 is often 8 to 12 Mbps for streaming, higher for mastering. It depends on motion and quality target, so treat estimates as a start.
Why is uncompressed video so large?
Uncompressed 1080p30 is nearly 1.5 Gbps because every pixel of every frame is sent in full. Codecs cut that by roughly 50 to 100 times.
How accurate are the codec estimates?
They are rough averages. Real bitrate depends on scene complexity, motion, and encoder settings, so confirm with a representative test encode.
Is bitrate the same as file size?
No. Bitrate is data per second; file size is bitrate times duration. Use the video file size calculator to convert.
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