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Bitrate Calculator

Determine the encoding bitrate required for a specific file size limit.

Required Video Bitrate
kbps

Formula: ((TargetMB * 8192) - (AudioKbps * DurationSec)) / DurationSec

How Bitrate Works

Bitrate is purely a measure of data over time. The resolution (1080p vs 4K) does not directly dictate file size—only the bitrate does.

If you encode a 4K video at 1,000 kbps, it will be the exact same file size as a 1080p video encoded at 1,000 kbps. The 4K version will just look heavily pixelated because those 1,000 kilobits are stretched across 4 times as many pixels.

Typical Target Bitrates (H.264)

  • 1080p Web: 4,000 - 8,000 kbps
  • 1080p BluRay: 25,000 - 35,000 kbps
  • 4K Web: 15,000 - 25,000 kbps
  • 4K UHD BluRay: 50,000 - 80,000+ kbps