Below are recommended upload encoding settings for your videos on YouTube.
Container: MP4- No Edit Lists (or the video might not be processed correctly)
- moov atom at the front of the file (Fast Start)
- Channels: Stereo or Stereo + 5.1
- Sample rate 96 khz or 48 khz
- Progressive scan (no interlacing)
- High Profile
- 2 consecutive B frames
- Closed GOP. GOP of half the frame rate.
- CABAC
- Variable bitrate. No bitrate limit is required, although we offer recommended bit rates below for reference
- Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0
Content should be encoded and uploaded using the same frame rate that was used during recording.
Common frame rates include: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 frames per second (other frame rates are also acceptable).
Interlaced content should be deinterlaced before uploading. For example, 1080i60 content should be deinterlaced to 1080p30. 60 interlaced fields per second should be deinterlaced to 30 progressive frames per second.
The bitrates below are recommendations for uploads. Audio playback bitrate is not related to video resolution.
Recommended video bitrates for SDR uploads
To view new 4K uploads in 4K, use a browser or device that supports VP9.
| Type | Video Bitrate, Standard Frame Rate (24, 25, 30) |
Video Bitrate, High Frame Rate (48, 50, 60) |
|---|---|---|
| 8K | 80–160 Mbps | 120–240 Mbps |
| 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 |
Recommended video bitrates for HDR uploads
| Type | Video Bitrate, Standard Frame Rate (24, 25, 30) |
Video Bitrate, High Frame Rate (48, 50, 60) |
|---|---|---|
| 8K | 100–200 Mbps | 150–300 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) | 44–56 Mbps | 66–85 Mbps |
| 1440p (2K) | 20 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 1080p | 10 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
| 720p | 6.5 Mbps | 9.5 Mbps |
| 480p |
Not supported |
Not supported |
| 360p | Not supported | Not supported |
Recommended audio bitrates for uploads
| Type | Audio Bitrate |
|---|---|
| Mono | 128 kbps |
| Stereo | 384 kbps |
| 5.1 | 512 kbps |
The standard aspect ratio for YouTube on a computer is 16:9. When uploading other aspect ratios such as vertical or square, the player automatically adapts itself to the size of the video. This setting gives the best viewing experience based on the aspect ratio and device.
Learn how to use video resolution and aspect ratios correctly.
Colour space
Recommended colour space for SDR uploads
| Colour space | Colour transfer characteristics (TRC) | Colour primaries | Colour matrix coefficients |
|---|---|---|---|
| BT.709 | BT.709 (H.273 value: 1) | BT.709 (H.273 value 1) | BT.709 (H.273 value 1) |
YouTube standardises functionally similar colour matrices and primaries before processing the video. For example, BT.601 and BT.709 TRC are identical, and YouTube unifies them to BT.709. Or, BT.601 NTSC and PAL have functionally similar colour matrices and YouTube unifies them to BT.601 NTSC. In addition, YouTube may take the following actions to interpret the colour space values:
| When | YouTube action |
|---|---|
| The upload colour space has unspecified TRC. | Assumes BT.709 TRC. |
| The upload colour space has unknown or unspecified colour matrix and primaries. | Assumes BT.709 colour matrix and primaries. |
| The upload colour space mixes BT.601 and BT.709 colour primaries and matrix with specified values. | Uses the colour matrix to override the colour primaries and make them consistent. |
| The upload colour space mixes BT.601 and BT.709 colour primaries and matrix, and either primaries or matrix is unspecified. | Uses the specified value of colour primaries/matrix to set and override the unspecified one. |
After the upload colour space standardisation, YouTube will check if BT.709 or BT.601 matches and passes through the colour space. Otherwise, YouTube converts the unsupported colour spaces to BT.709 by mapping pixel values.
Recommended colour space for HDR uploads
Refer to the Upload HDR videos article.