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For a 1080p30 H.264 YouTube live stream, start at 14 Mbps. If your live output uses AV1 or H.265/HEVC, YouTube recommends 10 Mbps at the same resolution and frame rate. These are live-ingest recommendations—not file-upload targets—and the right setting changes with codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube does not specify a different bitrate just because a stream loops prerecorded video or runs 24/7.
Use the live-stream bitrate, not the file-upload bitrate
A prerecorded video becomes a live stream when an encoder sends it to YouTube as a live feed. Choose the bitrate from YouTube’s live encoder settings and bitrate table for the incoming codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube publishes separate video upload recommendations; those figures apply to uploading a file, not live ingest.
For example, YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for a 1080p standard-frame-rate H.264 file upload, but 14 Mbps for 1080p30 H.264 live ingest. Do not use the upload number as the target for your continuous live feed.
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The figures below are YouTube’s published recommendations in Mbps. Select the row matching the signal your encoder actually sends—not merely the resolution of the original file. The recommended value is not a guarantee of identical image quality for every source.
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| Incoming resolution and frame rate | AV1 or H.265/HEVC | H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 the recommended video bitrates in YouTube’s live-ingest table, not minimums or a promise that every source will look the same. YouTube also lists minimum settings on its guidance page.
Set the encoder for a reliable continuous stream
Bitrate is only one part of the outgoing signal. YouTube’s current encoder guidance specifies the following settings and supported options:
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- Protocol: RTMP or RTMPS.
- Video codec: H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1.
- Rate control: CBR (constant bitrate).
- Keyframes: Set a 2-second interval; do not exceed 4 seconds.
- Frame rate: YouTube lists support up to 60 fps. Match the actual output to the source and the selected bitrate-table row.
- Picture format: Square pixels, progressive scan, and CABAC; use Rec. 709 for SDR.
- Audio: For stereo, YouTube recommends AAC or MP3 at 128 Kbps. AAC is required for the listed 5.1 audio support over RTMP/RTMPS.
YouTube detects resolution and frame rate automatically by default. Manual selection is available with a custom stream key. Its live stream settings guidance recommends choosing the highest resolution and bitrate you can stream reliably. YouTube also notes that lower latency can increase playback buffering; DVR lets viewers pause and rewind a live stream.
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Choose a bitrate your connection can sustain
The encoder must send the full outgoing stream bitrate over your upload connection. Run an upload speed test, then test the complete setup before relying on it for a long broadcast. YouTube advises testing with similar movement and audio and monitoring stream health and messages while live in its streaming tips.
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- Identify the outgoing format. Confirm the resolution, frame rate, and codec the encoder will send to YouTube.
- Use the matching recommended bitrate. Start with the relevant row in the table above.
- Check upload capacity. Verify that the outbound connection can sustain the stream bitrate. YouTube’s cited guidance does not set a universal extra bandwidth margin, so do not treat an arbitrary buffer as an official YouTube rule.
- Run a representative test. Use the same encoder, connection, video movement, and audio planned for the continuous stream.
- Monitor stream health. Watch YouTube’s health status and messages during the test and broadcast; investigate connection or encoding warnings rather than assuming the bitrate alone is at fault.
A static scene may be easier to encode than fast movement, but YouTube does not publish a separate bitrate table for static footage, prerecorded loops, or 24/7 broadcasts. The recommendations are based on the incoming format. YouTube transcodes the live feed into multiple formats for viewers, so your ingest setting is not a promise that every viewer receives that same bitrate.
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