MotionShineShort answer: Video bitrate is the amount of data used for each second of video, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A higher bitrate gives a bigger file and, up to a point, a cleaner picture. File size is bitrate times length: size in megabytes equals Mbps times seconds, divided by 8.
Checked on 23 October 2026. The recommended bitrates come from YouTube Help, "Recommended upload encoding settings". The sums are mine.
The sum behind file size
Bitrate is a rate, so the file grows with time. One minute is 60 seconds.
| Bitrate | One minute | Ten minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Mbps | 37.5 MB | 375 MB |
| 8 Mbps | 60 MB | 600 MB |
| 16 Mbps | 120 MB | 1,200 MB |
| 45 Mbps | 337.5 MB | 3,375 MB |
Each cell is Mbps times seconds divided by 8. For 8 Mbps over one minute: 8 x 60 = 480, and 480 / 8 = 60 MB. This counts the video only. Sound adds a little. These are examples, not what any particular recorder makes.
To skip the maths, the free bitrate and file size calculator turns a bitrate and length into a size, or a size limit into a bitrate. It can also read the length and average bitrate of a video you drop on it.
What YouTube recommends
YouTube Help gives these bitrates for SDR uploads. They are recommendations, and the page says no bitrate limit is required.
| Resolution | 24, 25 or 30 fps | 48, 50 or 60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) | 35 to 45 Mbps | 53 to 68 Mbps |
| 1440p | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps |
| 480p | 2.5 Mbps | 4 Mbps |
More pixels and more frames each second need more data, which is why the numbers climb down the table and across it. See what is 4K video and how to record at 60 fps.
Does a higher bitrate mean better quality?
Up to a point. Below a certain level a picture shows blocks and blur, especially in motion. Above it, extra data adds little you can see. The right level depends on the codec too. A newer codec such as HEVC can hold similar quality in less data than H.264. H.264 vs HEVC for screen recordings covers the choice.
Screen recordings are often easier to compress than camera footage when little changes between frames, but a busy scroll needs more data. I did not measure this, so treat it as a rule of thumb.
Constant or variable bitrate
A constant bitrate sends the same amount of data every second. A variable bitrate sends more when the picture is busy and less when it is still. YouTube Help recommends variable bitrate for uploads.
How to check a video's bitrate on a Mac
- Open the file in QuickTime Player.
- Press Command-I, which Apple's page calls the Movie Inspector. It shows information such as resolution, data size and format.
- For the average bitrate, drop the file on the calculator. It reads the length and works it out.
Or divide the file size by the length yourself: megabytes times 8, divided by seconds, gives Mbps.
How to lower the bitrate
Lower the bitrate, the picture size or the frame rate, and the file shrinks. How to compress a video on Mac shows five ways. MotionShine, a free Mac screen recorder by the writer of this blog, exports up to 720p at 30 fps for free with no watermark. Pro unlocks 1080p, 1440p, 4K and 60 fps. It is not for you if you want to set a bitrate by hand, because I have not listed that as a feature.
FAQ
What is a good bitrate for 1080p?
YouTube Help recommends 8 Mbps at standard frame rates and 12 Mbps at high frame rates for uploads.
What does Mbps mean?
Megabits per second. Eight bits make one byte, so 8 Mbps is 1 megabyte of data each second.
Is bitrate the same as resolution?
No. Resolution is the picture size in pixels. Bitrate is how much data is spent on each second of video.
Is Mbps the same as MB/s?
No. Mbps is megabits and MB/s is megabytes. Divide Mbps by 8 to get MB/s.
How do I make a video file smaller?
Lower the bitrate, shrink the picture or drop the frame rate. The video compressor can aim for a size such as 25 MB.
Does bitrate affect audio too?
Yes, sound has its own bitrate. YouTube Help says audio playback bitrate is not related to video resolution.
