Bitrate and file size calculator
Pick resolution, frame rate and duration to see each codec's approximate bitrate for similar quality and how big the file would be.
How it is calculated
We start from the H.264 bitrate YouTube recommends uploading at each resolution (for example 8 Mbps for 1080p30 and 35-45 Mbps for 4K). For each codec we apply the average saving reported in published comparisons at equal perceived quality. Size is bitrate times duration (plus 3 % for audio and container).
A football match or a rainy scene needs far more bitrate than an interview against a plain background. If you encode with CRF (constant quality), final size varies with content.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the bitrates come from?
The H.264 baseline is YouTube's recommended upload bitrate for SDR video. For the other codecs we apply the average savings reported in comparative studies. It is an estimate: real bitrate depends heavily on content.
How big is a 4K movie in HEVC?
At about 20 Mbps, a two-hour movie takes around 18 GB. A 4K Blu-ray uses much more, 50 to 100 Mbps, because it aims for maximum quality.