Video bitrate calculator
Work out the file size of a video, the bitrate of a file you already have, and how much traffic and money streaming it takes.
Resolution
Frame rate
Codec
Duration
Filled from your choice above. Type your own to override.
File size
2.9 GB
Bitrate
6.5 Mbps
Viewer connection
9.1 Mbps
Duration
Average bitrate
6.2 Mbps
In kilobits
6,222 kbps
Fits the range of
1080p
Typical viewing quality
Kinescope, per month
€72.89
Monthly traffic
2,925 GB
Library storage
146 GB
One-time processing
3,000 min · €30.00
Estimate on pay-as-you-go tiers: traffic from €0.03 to €0.01 per GB, storage from €0.03 to €0.02 per GB, processing €0.01 per uploaded minute, paid once. The Super plan has a €10 monthly minimum. See pricing
Recommended bitrates for H.264
| Resolution | Recommended | Per viewing hour |
|---|---|---|
| 360p | 0.5–0.8 Mbps | 0.29 GB |
| 480p | 1–1.5 Mbps | 0.6 GB |
| 720p | 2.5–4 Mbps | 1.5 GB |
| 1080p | 5–8 Mbps | 2.9 GB |
| 4K | 15–25 Mbps | 9.0 GB |
At 24–30 fps. For 50–60 fps plan about 1.5× the bitrate; H.265 and AV1 need about half of it for the same picture.
How the calculator works
File size
Size = bitrate × duration ÷ 8. For example, a 1-hour video at 6.5 Mbps is 6.5 × 3,600 ÷ 8 = 2,925 MB, about 2.9 GB.
Bitrate from size
Bitrate = size × 8 ÷ duration. For example, a 700 MB file that runs 15 minutes averages 700 × 8 ÷ 900 ≈ 6.2 Mbps.
Frame rate and codec
50–60 fps needs about 1.5× the bitrate of 24–30 fps. H.265 and AV1 reach the same picture with about half the bitrate of H.264.
Viewer connection
A viewer needs about 1.4× the video bitrate so the player keeps a buffer and does not stall on small dips in speed.
Streaming traffic
Traffic = views × minutes watched × bitrate. Count minutes actually watched: most viewers do not finish every video.
Adaptive streaming
With adaptive bitrate, the player picks a lower rendition on slow connections, so real traffic is often below the estimate at full quality.
FAQ
Can’t find the answer you need? Check out our Bitrate explained.
Multiply the bitrate by the duration in seconds and divide by 8. For example, 6.5 Mbps × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 = 2,925 MB, or about 2.9 GB for one hour of 1080p video.
For H.264 at 24–30 fps, 5–8 Mbps. At 50–60 fps, plan about 1.5 times more. With H.265 or AV1 you need about half the bitrate for the same picture.
Multiply the file size in megabytes by 8 and divide by the duration in seconds. A 700 MB file that runs 15 minutes has an average bitrate of about 6.2 Mbps.
About 2.9 GB for 1080p at 6.5 Mbps, 1.5 GB for 720p at 3.25 Mbps and 9 GB for 4K at 20 Mbps. The reference table on this page lists every resolution.
About 1.4 times the bitrate of the version they watch. For 1080p at 6.5 Mbps that is roughly 9 Mbps. Adaptive streaming switches to a lower quality on slower connections instead of stopping.
Monthly traffic and storage are priced on the Kinescope pay-as-you-go tiers: traffic from €0.03 to €0.01 per GB and storage from €0.03 to €0.02 per GB. Processing costs €0.01 per uploaded minute, paid once. The Super plan has a €10 monthly minimum.