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For most recorded SDR videos, export a progressive MP4 using H.264, keep the frame rate and aspect ratio of your original footage, use BT.709 color, and choose a video bitrate from YouTube’s resolution-and-frame-rate recommendations. AAC-LC audio at 48 kHz is a straightforward default. These are recommendations, not exact requirements or guarantees of quality.
Recommended export settings at a glance
| Setting | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| Container | MP4; enable Fast Start so the moov atom is at the front, and avoid edit lists. |
| Video codec | H.264, High Profile, progressive scan, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, CABAC, two consecutive B frames, closed GOP with GOP length half the frame rate, and variable bitrate. |
| Frame rate | Match the rate at which the footage was recorded. Common rates include 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps. |
| Aspect ratio | Preserve the source’s natural shape. Use 16:9 for standard widescreen footage; do not add padding or black bars. |
| Color | For SDR, use BT.709 and metadata that matches how the video was mastered. |
| Audio | AAC-LC, 48 kHz. YouTube’s audio bitrate recommendations are 128 kbps mono, 384 kbps stereo, or 512 kbps 5.1. |
YouTube’s full recommendations are on its recommended upload encoding settings page. Its video and audio formatting specifications explain that there is no universal minimum bitrate: the appropriate bitrate depends on the codec, resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rate.
Choose a bitrate for your resolution and frame rate
The table reproduces YouTube Help’s recommended video bitrates for uploads. Standard frame rate means 24, 25, or 30 fps; high frame rate means 48, 50, or 60 fps. Values are references, not upload limits or guaranteed quality levels.
| Output resolution | SDR, standard fps | SDR, high fps | HDR, standard fps | HDR, high fps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8K | 80–160 Mbps | 120–240 Mbps | 100–200 Mbps | 150–300 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) | 35–45 Mbps | 53–68 Mbps | 44–56 Mbps | 66–85 Mbps |
| 1440p (2K) | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps | 6.5 Mbps | 9.5 Mbps |
| 480p | 2.5 Mbps | 4 Mbps | Not supported | Not supported |
| 360p | 1 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps | Not supported | Not supported |
For example, a 1080p SDR project recorded at 30 fps has an 8 Mbps video reference; a 1080p SDR export at 60 fps has a 12 Mbps reference. Those values do not mean other bitrates will fail. The table is for uploaded recordings, not YouTube Live encoder settings.
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Match the export to the footage
Keep the original frame rate
Export at the frame rate the camera or screen recording used. YouTube lists 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, and 60 fps as common rates and allows others. Changing frame rate without a reason can alter motion; do not convert 30 fps footage to 60 fps merely because 60 is available in the export menu.
Preserve the source aspect ratio
Use the dimensions that fit the source and project. Standard 16:9 examples are 1920×1080 for 1080p and 3840×2160 for 4K, but YouTube’s player adapts to vertical, square, and other shapes. Its resolution and aspect-ratio guidance recommends letting the player adapt rather than baking black bars or padding into the file.
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Deinterlace interlaced video
YouTube recommends progressive uploads. If the source is interlaced, deinterlace it during export; YouTube’s example converts 1080i60 to 1080p30. Use the output rate that makes sense for the source and editing workflow.
Set color and audio appropriately
SDR color
For standard dynamic range, use BT.709 and ensure the exported color metadata reflects the way the footage was mastered. YouTube warns that unsupported color spaces may be converted and says it converts full-range video to limited range. Avoid assigning color metadata that does not describe the actual master.
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Audio format and bitrate
AAC-LC at 48 kHz is a broadly compatible default. YouTube also lists Opus and Eclipsa Audio, with stereo, stereo plus 5.1, or stereo plus Eclipsa Audio configurations. Its audio bitrate references are 128 kbps for mono, 384 kbps for stereo, and 512 kbps for 5.1. Audio playback bitrate is not tied to video resolution.
Export and upload without common surprises
- Choose the output dimensions and frame rate. Use the project’s intended resolution and the footage’s recorded frame rate; preserve the source aspect ratio.
- Select MP4 and H.264. Use progressive scan, High Profile, variable bitrate, CABAC, two consecutive B frames, 4:2:0 chroma, and a closed GOP with a GOP length equal to half the frame rate.
- Set the bitrate reference. Find the matching resolution, SDR or HDR workflow, and standard or high frame-rate column in YouTube’s table above. Treat it as a recommendation.
- Set audio and color. For a typical SDR stereo video, choose BT.709 and AAC-LC at 48 kHz, with 384 kbps stereo audio as YouTube’s recommendation.
- Enable Fast Start and avoid edit lists. Fast Start places the MP4 moov atom at the front of the file; YouTube warns that files with edit lists may not process correctly.
- Upload and allow processing time. A new upload may initially be available only in low quality. Higher-quality renditions, including 1080p and 4K, can take longer and may require several hours.
If the video must be available in its final quality at the moment it is published, upload it as unlisted first. Make it public after the desired quality options have finished processing. YouTube’s upload audio and video troubleshooting guide covers processing and playback issues.
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Why 4K may not appear immediately
Uploading a 4K file does not mean every viewer or device will immediately see a 4K playback option. Processing higher resolutions takes additional time, and YouTube notes that a browser or device supporting VP9 is needed to view new uploads in 4K. Confirm the processing is complete and check playback on a compatible device before assuming the export failed.
Keep upload settings separate from live-stream settings
These recommendations are for prerecorded video files uploaded to YouTube. A live stream uses a different encoder workflow, so do not apply the upload bitrate table as live-stream settings. If your goal is to keep prerecorded videos looping as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, that is a separate setup from exporting an upload.
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Quick Recap
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