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Stream optimizer & bitrate calculator

Get recommended packages under your platform cap and upload speed — including 936p when 1080p60 would look soft. Paste into OBS, save profiles, calculate file size.

Stream optimizer

Recommended setup for your limits

Platform cap + upload + content motion → three packages. Apply one to the calculator and copy OBS settings.

  • · Twitch ingest cap ≈ 6,000 Kbps video.
  • · Using ≤70% of 20 Mbps upload for total stream bitrate.

Sharp under cap: 1080p @ 30fps · 4,500 Kbps

  • · Targets highest pixel quality under 6000 Kbps cap.
  • · 1080p60 fits your cap and upload with acceptable quality density.
Stored in this browser · manage below
Saved profiles appear here after you save a recommended setup. They stay in this browser only.

Settings

Live · no signup
Quick presets
Frame rate
Duration
0 min1h 12 hrs
Advanced optionsH.264 (AVC) · Medium · 128 kbps audio
Video codec
Content motion
Your upload speed (optional)
Mbps

Enter upload (not download) from a speed test to check headroom.

Results

1920×1080 @ 60fps
Video bitrate
6,000Kbps
6.0 Mbps video · 6.13 Mbps total
File size
2.57 GB
2,629.85 MB for selected duration
Platform limit: Capped at 6,000 Kbps — Twitch's limit. These settings would ideally use 12.0 Mbps, so motion may look soft. Many streamers drop to 936p or 720p60 to concentrate the bitrate into fewer pixels.
Quality: Low
0.048 bits/pixel
Video Bitrate
6.0 Mbps
6,000 Kbps
Audio
128 Kbps
stream audio
Upload SpeedExplore
9.2 Mbps
1.5x headroom
Bandwidth/minExplore
44.9 MB
data per minute

Video Bitrate Range

Minimum
4.5 Mbps
lowest acceptable
Recommended
6.0 Mbps
best balance
Maximum
6.0 Mbps
Twitch cap

Use these settings in OBS

OBS → Settings → Output → Streaming · one-click copy all below

Video bitrate6,000 Kbps
Audio bitrate128 Kbps
Rate controlCBR
Keyframe / profile2s · High · B-frames 2
Prefer a guided setup? Open Setup Wizard →

Codec Comparison

CodecBitrateFile Sizevs H.264
H.264 (AVC)active12.13 Mbps5.08 GB100%
H.265 (HEVC)7.33 Mbps3.07 GB60%
VP97.33 Mbps3.07 GB60%
AV16.13 Mbps2.57 GB51%
ProRes 42242.13 Mbps17.66 GB347%
ProRes 444460.13 Mbps25.20 GB496%
Video bitrate
6,000 Kbps
File size
2.57 GB
See details ↓
  • 100% free, no signup
  • Optimizer + save profiles
  • Twitch · YouTube · Kick · OBS

What do you need next?

How the calculator works

We combine resolution, frame rate, codec efficiency, audio bitrate, and duration into file size and bitrate estimates you can paste into OBS. Use it to plan storage, stay under platform caps, and check whether your upload speed has enough headroom.

  • Resolutions: 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K, 8K
  • Codecs: H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1, ProRes 422 / 4444
  • Frame rates: 24, 30, 60, 120 fps

Popular bitrate guides

Frequently asked questions

How much storage does 1 hour of 4K video take?

A 1-hour 4K video at 30fps using H.264 takes about 15 GB at a 35 Mbps bitrate. HEVC (H.265) cuts that to around 9 GB, roughly 40% smaller. Higher bitrates (50+ Mbps for pro-grade footage) scale the size up proportionally.

What bitrate do I need for 1080p streaming?

For 1080p at 30fps, a bitrate of 4,500-6,000 Kbps (H.264) is recommended. At 60fps, aim for 6,000-9,000 Kbps.

Is HEVC better than H.264 for streaming?

HEVC (H.265) offers ~40% better compression than H.264 at similar quality, meaning smaller files and lower bandwidth. However, encoding is slower and some older devices lack hardware decoding support.

Calculate by resolution & frame rate

Platform guides

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