Ijharul Islam
For YouTube, export 1080p at 8 Mbps (24-30 fps) or 12 Mbps (48-60 fps), 720p at 5 or 7.5 Mbps, and 4K at 35-45 or 53-68 Mbps; those are YouTube's own recommendations, checked in October 2026. Instagram and TikTok don't publish a bitrate for regular posts, so about 8-12 Mbps at 1080p is a sensible working figure; TikTok's in-feed ads need at least 516 kbps and 500 MB or less.
More on this topic: Video formats, codecs and numbers, every guide in one place.
Below are the official numbers per platform, what to do where none exist, and how bitrate turns into file size.
The short answer
YouTube (SDR): 2160p 35-45 Mbps (53-68 at 60 fps), 1440p 16 (24), 1080p 8 (12), 720p 5 (7.5), 480p 2.5 (4), 360p 1 (1.5). Audio 384 kbps stereo. Instagram Reels and TikTok: no published bitrate; 8-12 Mbps at 1080×1920 is plenty because both re-compress. TikTok ads: at least 516 kbps, 500 MB max.
Key takeaways
- Bitrate is data per second. More bits mean more detail in motion, up to a point, and a bigger file.
- YouTube is the only big platform with a published bitrate table; use it.
- Higher frame rates need about 1.5× the bitrate at the same resolution.
- Platforms re-encode everything, so exporting far above their recommendation mostly adds upload time.
- File size (MB) ≈ bitrate (Mbps) × seconds ÷ 8.
YouTube's recommended bitrates
From YouTube's recommended upload encoding settings, for SDR uploads:
| Resolution | 24, 25 or 30 fps | 48, 50 or 60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) | 35-45 Mbps | 53-68 Mbps |
| 1440p (2K) | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps |
| 480p | 2.5 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
| 360p | 1 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps |
For HDR uploads YouTube recommends a little more: 10 Mbps at 1080p (15 at high frame rates), 6.5 at 720p and 44-56 Mbps at 4K. Audio: AAC-LC or Opus, 128 kbps mono, 384 kbps stereo, 512 kbps for 5.1. Container: MP4; video codec: H.264.
The rest of YouTube's settings (profile, GOP, colour) are in the best export settings for YouTube. Pick the frame rate first: 24 vs 30 vs 60 fps explains why 60 fps needs 50% more bitrate.
What bitrate for Instagram Reels?
Instagram doesn't publish a bitrate for Reels. Its help page sets minimums instead: an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at least 30 fps and at least 720 pixels. Instagram re-compresses every upload, so a 1080×1920 MP4 (H.264, AAC) at about 8-12 Mbps gives it a clean source without a huge upload. That range is our working figure, not an Instagram rule. Full specs: Instagram Reels size.
What bitrate for TikTok?
TikTok publishes two sets of limits. For regular posts, TikTok for Developers lists MP4, WebM or MOV, 23-60 fps, 360 to 4096 pixels per side and up to 4 GB, with no bitrate. For auction in-feed ads, TikTok Ads Help asks for a bitrate of at least 516 kbps and a file of 500 MB or less, up to 10 minutes long. Export 1080×1920 at 8-12 Mbps and you meet both. See TikTok video size.
Bitrate cheat sheet by platform
| Platform | Official bitrate | What we'd export | Other limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube 1080p30 | 8 Mbps | 8-10 Mbps, H.264 | MP4 recommended |
| YouTube 1080p60 | 12 Mbps | 12-15 Mbps | Same frame rate as recorded |
| YouTube 4K30 | 35-45 Mbps | 40 Mbps | Same frame rate as recorded |
| Instagram Reels | Not published | 8-12 Mbps at 1080×1920 | 30 fps and 720 px minimum |
| TikTok posts | Not published | 8-12 Mbps at 1080×1920 | Up to 4 GB |
| TikTok in-feed ads | 516 kbps or more | 8-12 Mbps | 500 MB, up to 10 minutes |
| LinkedIn video ads | Not published | 6-10 Mbps at 1080p | MP4, 75 KB to 500 MB, under 30 fps |
| LinkedIn posts | 192 kbps to 30 Mbps | 6-10 Mbps at 1080p | 5 GB, 15 minutes, 10-60 fps |
| X (Twitter) | 2,048 kbps at 1280×720 in X's table; the same page also lists a 5,000 kbps minimum | 5-8 Mbps at 720p or 1080p | H.264 High, AAC-LC at 128 kbps, 60 fps or less |
| Not published | 8-12 Mbps at 1080×1920 or 1000×1500 | H.264 or H.265, up to 2 GB | |
| Facebook feed and Reels | Not published | 8-12 Mbps at 1080p | Feed video ads up to 4 GB |
The working figures are ours. When a platform publishes a number, it wins. LinkedIn's post limits come from its video sharing help page; X's figures come from its developer documentation, which contradicts itself (a recommended-bitrate table of 2,048 kbps at 720p next to a 5,000 kbps minimum), so exporting at 5 Mbps or more satisfies both; Pinterest's product specs and Meta's Ads Guide give file limits but no bitrate. Checked on 26 October 2026. Per-platform details: LinkedIn video specs, X video limits, Pinterest video size and Facebook video ad specs.
How bitrate sets file size
File size in megabytes ≈ (video + audio bitrate in Mbps) × duration in seconds ÷ 8. A 3-minute 1080p30 video at 8 Mbps with 384 kbps audio is (8 + 0.384) × 180 ÷ 8 ≈ 189 MB. The same video at 4 Mbps is about 99 MB. For MB per minute and GB per hour at every common bitrate, see video file size per minute.
| Bitrate (video + audio) | 1 minute | 5 minutes | 10 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | 7.5 MB | 38 MB | 75 MB |
| 2.5 Mbps | 19 MB | 94 MB | 188 MB |
| 5 Mbps | 38 MB | 188 MB | 375 MB |
| 8 Mbps | 60 MB | 300 MB | 600 MB |
| 12 Mbps | 90 MB | 450 MB | 900 MB |
| 40 Mbps | 300 MB | 1.5 GB | 3 GB |
QuickVeed's free video bitrate calculator does this in both directions: the size for a given bitrate and length, or the bitrate that fits a size limit, with YouTube's table built in. To make an existing file smaller, the free video compressor re-records it at about 3, 1.5 or 0.7 Mbps (1080p, 720p or 480p) in your browser. For tight limits, see how to compress a video for email and how to make a video small enough for Discord.
Constant vs variable bitrate, and when more isn't better
- Variable bitrate (VBR) or a quality setting (CRF/RF) spends bits where the picture needs them. Use it for uploads.
- Constant bitrate (CBR) is for live streaming, where the connection needs a steady rate.
- Past the platform's target, extra bits are wasted: the platform re-encodes to its own rate anyway.
- Fast motion, grain and confetti need more bits than a talking head against a wall. If a sports clip looks blocky on YouTube, go up a step, or upload in 1440p or 4K.
Our test (October 2026): the same quality setting lands at very different bitrates by content. H.264 CRF 23 came to 636 kbps on our 540×982 talking-head clip and 761 kbps on a 960×540 AI product clip. At matched quality, AV1 needed 72% and H.265 84% of H.264's bitrate on average. Full results: H.264 vs H.265 vs AV1, our test.
The container matters less than people think; MP4 vs MOV explains why.
Frequently asked questions
What bitrate should I use for 1080p YouTube?
8 Mbps at 24-30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48-60 fps, YouTube's recommended SDR figures.
What bitrate does YouTube recommend for 4K?
35-45 Mbps at 24-30 fps and 53-68 Mbps at 48-60 fps for SDR, and 44-56 / 66-85 Mbps for HDR.
What is the best bitrate for Instagram Reels?
Instagram doesn't publish one. About 8-12 Mbps at 1080×1920, 30 fps, H.264 MP4 is a safe working figure.
What bitrate does TikTok use?
TikTok doesn't publish a bitrate for posts. Its in-feed ads need at least 516 kbps and a file of 500 MB or less.
Does a higher bitrate mean better quality?
Up to a point. Past what the content needs, or what the platform re-encodes to, it only makes the file bigger.
How do I work out video file size from bitrate?
Multiply the total bitrate in Mbps by the seconds and divide by 8 to get MB. 8 Mbps for 60 seconds is 60 MB.
Try it with your own video
Export at the right bitrate, then let QuickVeed caption it or cut it into clips for each platform. Upload the video, pick a caption style, and judge the result for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
- YouTube Help: recommended upload encoding settings (bitrates, MP4, H.264)
- Instagram Help: Reels resolution and size
- TikTok for Developers: media transfer guide (video restrictions)
- TikTok Ads Help: auction in-feed ads specs (bitrate, file size)
- LinkedIn Help: video ads advertising specifications
- LinkedIn Help: video sharing troubleshooting (bit rates 192 Kbps to 30 Mbps)
- X developer platform: media best practices (recommended bitrates)
- Pinterest Help: product specs (video formats and size)
- Meta Ads Guide: video ads on Facebook Feed (4 GB)
