For an ordinary SDR upload, start from YouTube’s published MP4 and H.264 guidance, keep the recording’s frame rate, and use the matching SDR bitrate recommendation as a starting point. Reopen the exported file before uploading the full program.
On this page
A documented starting point
YouTube’s upload guidance specifies progressive H.264 in an MP4 container, recommends a 48 kHz audio sample rate, and identifies BT.709 for SDR. These are upload recommendations; they do not promise that every viewer will receive the same encoded stream.
| Resolution | 24 / 25 / 30 fps | 48 / 50 / 60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1440p | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 2160p / 4K | 35–45 Mbps | 53–68 Mbps |
Source: YouTube Help, checked October 6, 2026. These are SDR values, not the HDR table. Audio is separate; see the official page for the complete set of channel and bitrate guidance.
Keep frame-rate choices deliberate
Do not change a 24 fps program to 60 fps merely because a higher number looks attractive. A conversion can add duplicated or interpolated frames; it cannot recreate moments that were never captured. If your footage mixes rates, establish the timeline rate and handle individual clips intentionally. The frame-rate converter distinguishes conversion from reinterpretation.
A pre-upload verification routine
- Confirm the correct sequence range, resolution and intended frame rate.
- Confirm that the project is SDR; keep HDR workflows separate.
- Review video rate control and the total audio layout.
- Export a short segment containing movement, graphics and dialogue.
- Reopen the file and inspect dimensions, picture, audio and sync.
- Upload a test when the delivery requirements are important, then inspect the processed result at the intended playback quality.
Plan size without promising playback quality
A ten-minute video averaging 8 Mbps video plus 384 kbps audio has an estimated payload of 628.8 MB before overhead. That figure comes from arithmetic, not a guarantee about an encoder’s actual output. Use the size estimator to budget transfer and storage.
Sources and scope
This guide summarizes selected official upload settings and adds an original verification workflow. It is not a YouTube recompression benchmark. Check the current official page before relying on a preset.