4K Streaming Bandwidth Calculator

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Use the tool to find the bandwidth usage when streaming at 4K.

Calculator

  • Use the slider to select the bit rate (10 Mbps to 120 Mbps). See the guide below for recommendations
  • Enter the total time

Example Calculations

Streaming 4K at

  • 25 Mbps for 1 hour consumes 11.25 GB
  • 15 Mbps for 1 hour uses 6.75 GB

4K Bit Rate Recommendations

The recommended bitrate for 4K streaming varies depending on several factors, but here are the general guidelines:

Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) 4K Streaming

  • 35-45 Mbps for standard frame rates (24, 25, 30 fps)
  • 53-68 Mbps for high frame rates (48, 50, 60 fps)

High Dynamic Range (HDR) 4K Streaming

  • 44-56 Mbps for standard frame rates (24, 25, 30 fps)
  • 66-85 Mbps for high frame rates (48, 50, 60 fps)

Streaming Service Recommendations

  • Netflix: 15-25 Mbps
  • YouTube: 35-68 Mbps for uploads
  • Amazon Prime Video: 15 Mbps minimum

Factors Affecting Bitrate

  • Compression method (codec) used: H.264 vs H.265 (HEVC)
  • Content type: fast-moving scenes require higher bitrates
  • Desired quality level

For optimal quality, aim for the higher end of these ranges. However, for practical streaming purposes, many services use lower bitrates to balance quality with bandwidth constraints. A bitrate of 15-25 Mbps is often sufficient for good quality 4K streaming on most platforms.

Remember that these are recommendations for streaming.

For video production and uploads, higher bitrates (up to 100-120 Mbps) may be preferred to maintain the highest possible quality.

References