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Bitrate Calculator

Calculate the optimal bitrate for streaming on Twitch, YouTube, or Kick. Get OBS settings based on your resolution, frame rate, and upload speed.

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  • Works in your browser

Resolution

px
px

Frame rate

min
kbps
Recommended bitrate6.0 Mbps

Set this as the video bitrate in OBS with CBR rate control.

Minimum
3.0 Mbps
Maximum
9.0 Mbps
Upload speed needed (video + audio)
8.1 Mbps
Est. file size (60 min)
2.8 GB

Platform bitrate limits

Checked September 2026. Twitch allows up to 9 Mbps at 1440p with HEVC through Enhanced Broadcasting for Partners and Affiliates. YouTube shows its highest listed 4K60 value. Kick accepts H.264 only, up to 1080p60.

Twitch 1080p7.5 Mbps
YouTube40.0 Mbps
Kick8.0 Mbps
Facebook8.0 Mbps

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How streaming bitrate works

The relationship between resolution, frame rate, and bandwidth.

Bitrate measures how much data is sent per second. A 6,000 kbps stream sends 6 megabits of video data every second to the streaming platform. Higher bitrate means more data per frame, which translates to better visual quality and less compression artifacting.

The required bitrate scales with both resolution and frame rate. Doubling the resolution (e.g., 1080p to 4K) quadruples the pixel count, so it needs roughly 3-4x the bitrate. Doubling the frame rate (30 to 60 fps) needs about 1.3-1.5x the bitrate because video encoders can reference previous frames to reduce redundancy.

Streaming FAQ

Common questions about bitrate, OBS, and stream quality.

For 1080p60 on Twitch, use 6,000 to 7,500 kbps. Twitch raised its 1080p target to 7.5 Mbps (H.264) in June 2026, and Partners and Affiliates can stream 1440p at up to 9 Mbps with HEVC through Enhanced Broadcasting. If your upload speed is under 10 Mbps, drop to 4,500 kbps at 720p60 for a more stable stream. Checked September 2026.
Kick supports 1,000 to 8,000 kbps, up to 1920x1080 at 60 fps, with H.264 only, CBR rate control, and a 2-second keyframe interval. Checked September 2026.
Not necessarily. Higher bitrate means better quality per frame, but it requires more upload bandwidth. If your upload speed cannot handle the bitrate consistently, viewers will experience buffering. Stability matters more than raw quality for live streams.
CBR (Constant Bit Rate) sends the same amount of data per second regardless of scene complexity. VBR (Variable Bit Rate) adjusts based on the content. Use CBR for live streaming because it provides consistent bandwidth usage. Use VBR for local recordings to get better quality at smaller file sizes.
Your upload speed should be at least 1.3x your video and audio bitrate combined, which leaves headroom for other network activity. A 6,000 kbps stream with 160 kbps audio needs about 8 Mbps, so aim for 8-10 Mbps of stable upload. Use a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi for consistent speeds.
For 1080p60, YouTube recommends 12 Mbps with H.264, or 4 to 10 Mbps with AV1 or HEVC. For 4K60 it recommends 35 Mbps with H.264, or 10 to 40 Mbps with AV1 or HEVC. Use CBR and a 2-second keyframe interval. Checked September 2026. For uploads (not live), YouTube re-encodes everything, so higher bitrate source files produce better final quality.

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