Video Bitrate Calculator
Find the optimal video bitrate to achieve your target file size. Enter your video duration and desired output size to calculate the maximum bitrate while maintaining quality.
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How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your target file size - Use presets for Discord (25MB), WhatsApp (16MB), or enter a custom size
- Input your video duration - The length of your video in seconds
- Select audio bitrate - Higher for music, lower for voice-only content
- Choose quality preference - Use full budget or leave headroom for encoding overhead
Why Bitrate Matters
Bitrate is the most important factor in video file size and quality:
- Higher bitrate = Better quality, larger files
- Lower bitrate = Smaller files, potential quality loss
- Right bitrate = Balance between quality and size for your needs
Recommended Bitrates by Resolution
- 4K (2160p): 15-30 Mbps for good quality, 35-45 Mbps for high quality
- 1440p: 10-20 Mbps for good quality, 20-30 Mbps for high quality
- 1080p: 5-10 Mbps for good quality, 10-15 Mbps for high quality
- 720p: 2.5-5 Mbps for good quality, 5-8 Mbps for high quality
- 480p: 1-2.5 Mbps for good quality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is video bitrate?
Video bitrate is the amount of data processed per second, measured in Mbps (megabits per second) or kbps (kilobits per second). Higher bitrates mean more data, resulting in better quality but larger files. Common bitrates range from 1 Mbps for low quality to 50+ Mbps for 4K professional video.
How do I calculate the bitrate I need?
To find the required bitrate: Bitrate (Mbps) = (Target Size in MB × 8) / Duration in seconds. For example, to fit a 60-second video in 25MB: (25 × 8) / 60 = 3.33 Mbps. Our calculator does this automatically and accounts for audio.
What bitrate is good for 1080p video?
For 1080p video, 5-10 Mbps is recommended for good quality. YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for standard 1080p uploads. For fast-moving content like gaming or sports, use 10-15 Mbps. For talking head videos, 5 Mbps is usually sufficient.
Does lowering bitrate affect video quality?
Yes, lowering bitrate reduces quality because less data is available to represent each frame. However, modern codecs like H.264 and H.265 are efficient at maintaining quality at lower bitrates. The impact depends on video content - static scenes compress better than action.
Let ClipBunny Handle the Math
Just set your target size - we'll compress to fit automatically.
Compress Now - It's FreeRelated Tools
- Video File Size Calculator - Estimate file size from bitrate and duration
- Video Metadata Viewer - View the actual bitrate of your videos
- Platform Size Checker - Check if your video fits various platforms