The Tool Desk
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Recommended YouTube live bitrate by resolution and codec
The figures below are YouTube’s recommended live ingest bitrates, accessed October 3, 2026. Choose the row matching the resolution, frame rate and codec you will actually send. H.264 is a common choice; YouTube’s table also covers H.265/HEVC and AV1.
| Ingest resolution and frame rate | AV1 or H.265 recommended | H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K), 60 fps | 35 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K), 30 fps | 30 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 1440p, 60 fps | 24 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| 1440p, 30 fps | 15 Mbps | 21 Mbps |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 12 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 10 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p, 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p, 30 fps | 6 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 480p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
These are YouTube recommendations, not minimums or a promise that your setup will remain connected. YouTube publishes separate minimums; treat those as lower bounds rather than the target when your connection can reliably support the recommended figure. See YouTube Help’s live encoder settings for its current table and supported ingest options.
What bitrate should I use for a 24/7 YouTube stream?
Start with the mode you can sustain
Choose the resolution and frame rate that suit the content and your connection. Do not choose a higher mode solely because OBS or your hardware makes it available. A static playlist may not benefit from the same frame-rate choice as fast-moving footage; select based on the detail and motion you want to send and can reliably sustain.
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Match the recommendation to the encoder
For H.264, use 14 Mbps as the YouTube-recommended starting point for 1080p30 or 17 Mbps for 1080p60. If the ingest encoder is AV1 or H.265/HEVC, YouTube recommends 10 Mbps for 1080p30 or 12 Mbps for 1080p60. Do not use one codec’s figure as though it applied to another.
Leave upload headroom
Compare the stream’s total bitrate with sustained upload capacity—not download speed. YouTube Help’s Streaming tips says: “The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available. Leave a bit of room (20% recommended).” That 20% is YouTube’s recommended room, not a guarantee against dropped frames or disconnections. See YouTube’s streaming tips.
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OBS and YouTube settings that affect the feed
- Rate control: Use constant bitrate (CBR) for live encoding, as YouTube recommends.
- Keyframes: Set a 2-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed 4 seconds.
- Transport and codecs: YouTube supports RTMP/RTMPS ingestion with H.264, H.265/HEVC or AV1. It recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport.
- Frame rate: YouTube’s live guidance supports frame rates up to 60 fps; select a mode represented in its bitrate table.
- Latency: YouTube notes that lower latency may lead to more playback buffering. If audience interaction is not central to the stream, lower latency may matter less than stable playback.
Use YouTube’s current live encoder settings as the authority for ingest settings, and its live settings guidance when deciding how latency fits the stream. Exact OBS menu labels can vary by version, so verify the controls in the OBS build you use rather than relying on a version-specific path.
Test before leaving a stream unattended
- Set the intended resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate. Confirm the selected row in YouTube’s live encoder table matches the actual outgoing feed.
- Check sustained upload capacity. Allow YouTube’s recommended 20% room for the total stream bitrate; do not infer upload capacity from a download result.
- Run a representative test. Include audio and movement similar to what the continuous stream will contain, as YouTube advises.
- Inspect stream health and messages. Resolve warnings or instability before depending on the setup for continuous operation. YouTube recommends monitoring stream health during the event.
A bitrate setting cannot establish that the internet connection, encoder, power supply or computer will remain available continuously. YouTube’s bitrate guidance does not prescribe one universal configuration for 24/7 uptime.
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Troubleshooting bitrate and stream stability
- Upload capacity is close to the stream’s total bitrate: Reduce the selected resolution, frame rate or bitrate until you have sustainable headroom. YouTube recommends leaving 20% room; the recommendation is not a stability guarantee.
- Stream health reports problems during the test: Check that the outgoing codec, resolution, frame rate and bitrate match the intended YouTube settings, then retest under representative conditions.
- Viewers report buffering: The creator’s bitrate is the ingest feed, not a promise that each viewer receives that exact rate. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for viewers. Review stream health and consider whether the chosen ingest mode is sustainable.
- The stream drops after the test: A bitrate recommendation alone cannot diagnose or prevent a failure in the connection, encoder, power or computer. Check which part stopped delivering the feed; do not treat an ingest setting as an uptime safeguard.
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- Excellent Anti-interference: The ethernet cable comes with 4 shielded foiled twisted pairs (F/FTP), pure copper core and gold-plated RJ45 connector, reducing interference, noise and crosstalk, making network speed faster and more stable
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