For a 480p stream at 30 frames per second, YouTube recommends 4 Mbps video bitrate with H.264 or 3 Mbps with H.265 (HEVC) or AV1. These are encoder recommendations—not proof that an internet plan advertising that upload speed can sustain a stream continuously. Leave room for audio and other network traffic, test under representative conditions, and watch YouTube’s stream-health indicators.
Recommended 480p bitrate and encoder settings
YouTube’s live encoder guidance gives separate 480p30 video bitrate recommendations by codec. The figures below are for the encoder’s outgoing video, not the total connection use.
| Setting | YouTube guidance for 480p at 30 fps |
|---|---|
| AV1 or H.265 (HEVC) video bitrate | 3 Mbps |
| H.264 video bitrate | 4 Mbps |
| Rate control | Constant bitrate (CBR) |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds |
| Stereo audio bitrate | 128 kbps, listed separately from video |
The published 480p recommendation is for 30 fps; it does not establish a separate recommended bitrate for 480p60. YouTube’s general live encoder guidance supports up to 60 fps, but do not assume that means the 480p30 values above are a 480p60 setting. YouTube lists RTMP/RTMPS as protocols, H.264, H.265, and AV1 as video codecs, and AAC or MP3 for audio. Check that your encoder and chosen YouTube ingest configuration support the codec you select. YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance is the reference for these recommendations.
How much upload speed does a continuous stream need?
Your connection needs to carry the selected video bitrate plus audio and any other traffic using the connection. A 4 Mbps video setting is therefore not a sensible target for a line that can only upload 4 Mbps reliably: the audio stream and competing traffic leave no margin. The same issue applies to the 3 Mbps codec recommendation.
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Advertised upload speed is not the same as stable upload capacity at all times. Congestion, Wi-Fi interference, other devices uploading, and fluctuations in the connection can make the actual available rate lower. YouTube recommends running an upload speed test; test the connection you will actually use and at the time and location you expect to stream. YouTube recommends checking upload bitrate rather than relying only on the plan’s advertised speed.
For a limited or variable connection, reduce the video bitrate if testing shows the recommended value is not sustainable. Use a lower resolution or frame rate if necessary, then test again. A stable stream at a lower setting is more useful than repeated drops at a higher one. Do not treat any speed-test result or bitrate ratio as a guarantee of uninterrupted service.
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- Connects a USB 3.0 device (computer/laptop) to a router, modem, or network switch to deliver Gigabit Ethernet to your network connection. Does not support Smart TV or gaming consoles (e.g.Nintendo Switch).
- Supported features include Wake-on-LAN function, Green Ethernet & IEEE 802.3az-2010 (Energy Efficient Ethernet)
- Supports IPv4/IPv6 pack Checksum Offload Engine (COE) to reduce Cental Processing Unit (CPU) loading
- Compatible with Windows 8.1 or higher, Mac OS
Set up and test the stream before relying on it
- Choose the encoder settings. In your streaming software, set output to 480p at 30 fps, select the codec you intend to use, and set its video bitrate to YouTube’s corresponding recommendation: 4 Mbps for H.264, or 3 Mbps for H.265 or AV1. Set rate control to CBR and the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. Keep stereo audio at 128 kbps if using YouTube’s listed audio setting.
- Check the upload connection. Run an upload speed test on the same wired or wireless connection the encoder will use. Account for the audio bitrate and leave capacity for other traffic; pause large uploads, backups, or downloads that could compete with the stream.
- Run a representative test stream. Use footage with similar motion and audio to the actual broadcast. A static screen may need less data than moving scenes, so a test that does not resemble the real content can give a misleading sense of stability.
- Check stream health and messages. During the test and while live, monitor YouTube’s stream-health status and encoder messages. If using OBS, rising dropped frames indicate that the connection is unstable or cannot keep up with the configured bitrate.
- Adjust one factor at a time. If the stream is unstable, first stop competing network traffic and check the connection. Then lower the bitrate; if that is not enough, reduce resolution or frame rate and repeat the test. Do not raise the bitrate based on a single favorable speed-test result.
YouTube automatically detects resolution and frame rate by default. Manual selection is available through custom stream-key settings. Use manual settings only when you need them and have tested the selected configuration. YouTube’s live encoder guidance also recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health during the event.
If you use OBS: interpret dropped frames and the 75% heuristic
OBS’s troubleshooting guide suggests starting with a bitrate at 75% of total upload speed. This is an OBS troubleshooting heuristic, not a YouTube requirement, and it is not an engineering guarantee: the upload speed may vary, other traffic may use bandwidth, and audio also consumes capacity. OBS likewise notes that bitrate depends on stable upload capacity and service limits. If you see rising dropped frames, treat them as a sign to investigate connection stability or lower the configured bitrate—not as a reason to keep the same setting and hope it recovers. See the OBS stream connection troubleshooting guide.
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What viewers receive may differ from your ingest bitrate
The bitrate you send to YouTube is the ingest bitrate. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple formats for playback, so your chosen encoder bitrate is not necessarily the bitrate each viewer receives. A viewer’s playback quality depends on YouTube’s delivered formats and the viewer’s device and connection. YouTube also notes that lower-latency settings can result in more playback buffering. YouTube’s encoder guidance covers ingest settings and stream behavior.
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