YouTube Video Size Calculator
Calculate optimal video dimensions, file sizes, and settings for perfect YouTube uploads
File Size Calculator
Calculated Results:
YouTube Recommendations
Optimal Settings
- • Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p)
- • Frame Rate: 30 or 60 fps
- • Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps
- • Format: MP4 (H.264 codec)
- • Audio: 128-384 kbps AAC
Maximum Limits
- • File Size: 256 GB or 12 hours
- • Resolution: Up to 8K (7680×4320)
- • Frame Rate: Up to 60 fps
- • Aspect Ratio: Any (16:9 recommended)
YouTube Shorts
- • Aspect Ratio: 9:16 (vertical)
- • Resolution: 1080×1920
- • Duration: Max 60 seconds
- • File Size: ~100-200 MB
Video Resolution Comparison Table
| Resolution | Pixels | 1 Min | 10 Min | 60 Min | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K (2160p) | 3840 × 2160 | 350 MB | 3.5 GB | 21 GB | 35 to 45 Mbps |
| Full HD (1080p)Recommended | 1920 × 1080 | 120 MB | 1.2 GB | 7.2 GB | 8 to 12 Mbps |
| HD (720p) | 1280 × 720 | 60 MB | 600 MB | 3.6 GB | 5 to 8 Mbps |
| SD (480p) | 854 × 480 | 30 MB | 300 MB | 1.8 GB | 2.5 to 4 Mbps |
| SD (360p) | 640 × 360 | 15 MB | 150 MB | 900 MB | 1 to 2 Mbps |
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Start Free TrialYouTube Video Dimensions: Complete Resolution Guide
Understanding YouTube's supported video dimensions helps ensure your content looks perfect on all devices. Here's the complete breakdown of every resolution YouTube supports in 2025.
📺 Standard Video Dimensions
📱 YouTube Shorts Dimensions
💡 Which Resolution Should You Choose?
Perfect balance of quality and file size. Looks great on all screens, uploads quickly, and provides excellent viewer experience.
Use for cinematic content, product showcases, or when you want to future-proof your videos. Requires more storage and upload time.
Good for beginners, talking head videos, or when you have limited storage/bandwidth. Still considered HD quality.
How to Optimize YouTube Video File Size for Faster Uploads
Large video files mean longer upload times and more storage space. Here's how to reduce file size without sacrificing quality.
🎯 Compression Techniques
1. Use H.264 Codec
YouTube's preferred format. Provides excellent compression while maintaining quality. Most video editors support this codec natively.
2. Optimize Bitrate
1080p: Use 8-12 Mbps
4K: Use 35-45 Mbps
720p: Use 5-8 Mbps
3. Two-Pass Encoding
Analyzes the video first, then encodes for optimal quality-to-size ratio. Takes longer but produces smaller files.
⚡ Quick Wins
Frame Rate Optimization
Use 30 fps for most content. Only use 60 fps for gaming, sports, or action videos. This can reduce file size by 40-50%.
Audio Compression
Use AAC codec at 128-384 kbps. Higher bitrates don't noticeably improve audio on most devices.
Trim Unnecessary Footage
Remove dead air, long intros, and filler content. Shorter videos = smaller files and better retention.
📊 Expected File Sizes by Duration
| Resolution | 5 Min | 10 Min | 30 Min | 60 Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K (2160p) | 1.75 GB | 3.5 GB | 10.5 GB | 21 GB |
| 1080p (Recommended) | 600 MB | 1.2 GB | 3.6 GB | 7.2 GB |
| 720p | 300 MB | 600 MB | 1.8 GB | 3.6 GB |
| 480p | 150 MB | 300 MB | 900 MB | 1.8 GB |
YouTube Upload Requirements & Limits [2025]
🚫 Maximum Limits
✅ Recommended Specifications
📝 Supported File Formats
- • .MOV (Recommended)
- • .MP4 (Recommended)
- • .AVI
- • .WMV
- • .FLV
- • .3GPP
- • .MPEG
- • .WebM
- • H.264 (Best)
- • H.265 (HEVC)
- • MPEG-4
- • MPEG-2
- • ProRes
- • DNxHR
- • AAC (Best)
- • MP3
- • PCM
- • Vorbis
- • Opus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video size for YouTube?
1920×1080 (1080p) at 8-12 Mbps bitrate is the best balance for most creators. It provides excellent quality that looks great on all devices while maintaining reasonable file sizes and upload times. For premium content or future-proofing, 4K (3840×2160) is ideal.
What are YouTube Shorts dimensions?
YouTube Shorts require vertical video with 1080×1920 pixels (9:16 aspect ratio). Maximum duration is 60 seconds. File size typically ranges from 100-200 MB. Use 30 or 60 fps and 8-12 Mbps bitrate for best results.
How long does it take to upload a YouTube video?
Upload time depends on file size and internet speed. With 10 Mbps upload speed: 1080p 10-minute video (~1.2 GB) takes about 16 minutes, 4K 10-minute video (~3.5 GB) takes about 47 minutes. Faster internet significantly reduces upload times.
Should I upload 60 fps or 30 fps to YouTube?
Use 30 fps for most content (vlogs, tutorials, talking heads). Use 60 fps only for gaming, sports, fast action, or smooth motion content. 60 fps files are 40-50% larger with minimal quality improvement for static content.
What's the maximum file size for YouTube?
YouTube accepts videos up to 256 GB or 12 hours duration, whichever comes first. Unverified accounts are limited to 15 minutes. Most creators never hit these limits with proper compression.
How do I reduce video file size for YouTube without losing quality?
Use H.264 codec with appropriate bitrate (8-12 Mbps for 1080p), export in MP4 format, use 30 fps instead of 60 fps for non-action content, optimize audio to 128-384 kbps AAC, and use two-pass encoding in your video editor.