Bitrate Calculator

Target a quality (codec, resolution and fps) or a fixed final size, and get the video bitrate, the data rate and the minimum card you need.

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Target a quality or a size

Resolution
Frames/s

Estimate of a typical recording bitrate, at equal quality, for the codec, resolution and fps. Each camera uses its own, and the real rate fluctuates with scene motion.

Typical bitrate
0Mbps
0Data rate
0Per hour
0Per minute
0Minimum card
Quick presets

How video bitrate is calculated

In by quality mode, the typical bitrate comes from the codec, the resolution and the fps:

Bitrate=base × (pixels ÷ 1080p pixels) × (fps ÷ 30)k

The base is the bitrate at 1080p and 30 fps (H.264 50 Mbps, H.265 25, ProRes 422 HQ 220…). In intra codecs (ProRes, DNxHR, Blackmagic RAW) every frame is compressed on its own, so the bitrate grows in proportion to the fps: k = 1. In inter-frame codecs (H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1) frames look more alike the faster you shoot, and doubling the fps costs about 1.5× more: k = 0.6, which is what YouTube’s own table implies.

In by target size mode, we split the final size across the duration: Bitrate = (GB × 8000) ÷ seconds, minus the audio. The data rate in MB/s is the bitrate divided by 8 — the figure your card must sustain.

Video bitrate example for 4K at 30 fps

  • 4K · H.265 · 30p → ≈ 100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s → SD V30 card, about 45 GB per hour. To upload it to YouTube, its official recommendation for 4K at 30 fps is 35–45 Mbps (44–56 in HDR).
  • 1 GB for 10 min (with AAC 256 audio) → ≈ 13 Mbps of video, perfect for uploading light clips.

Switch between the two modes depending on whether you start from a target quality or a size limit.

Video bitrate FAQ

What bitrate should I use to record video?
It depends on codec, resolution and fps. As a reference, 1080p at 30p in H.264 is around 50 Mbps, and 4K at 30p in H.265 about 100 Mbps (H.265 needs roughly half of H.264 at equal quality). The "By quality" mode gives a typical bitrate for your combination, and for YouTube uploads it also shows YouTube’s official recommendation, which is lower because that is a delivery file.
How do I work out the bitrate for a specific final size?
Use the "By target size" mode: enter the desired size in GB and the clip duration, and the calculator splits that size across the time, subtracting audio, to give the exact video bitrate.
What is the difference between bitrate and data rate?
Bitrate is measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and data rate in megabytes per second (MB/s). Since 1 byte is 8 bits, MB/s = Mbps ÷ 8. Your card speed is rated in MB/s.
Does more bitrate mean better quality?
Up to a point. A high bitrate keeps more detail and fewer artefacts, but past the codec threshold it barely improves and just takes more space. Modern codecs (H.265, AV1) reach the same quality with less bitrate.
What card do I need for a given bitrate?
Divide the bitrate by 8 to get MB/s and pick a card whose sustained speed beats it. The calculator shows the minimum class (V30, V60, V90, CFexpress).