For a finished video you plan to upload, export an MP4 with H.264 video, progressive scan, variable bitrate, and the same frame rate and aspect ratio as your source. For a live broadcast, use YouTube’s separate live-encoder settings: constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval, and a bitrate matched to resolution, frame rate, and codec. These are different encoding jobs; choose the one that fits your video.
First, decide: upload a finished video or stream live?
Encoding a recorded video for upload means preparing a file that YouTube will process for playback. Live encoding means sending a real-time signal to YouTube’s ingestion service. The recommended settings differ: uploads generally use variable bitrate, while YouTube Live calls for CBR. YouTube re-encodes uploaded videos for playback, so a high-quality, correctly specified source file matters more than trying to match one universal bitrate.
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- Finished recording: use the upload format and bitrate guidance below.
- Live broadcast from an encoder: use the live settings section; do not apply the upload bitrate table to a live stream.
- Pre-recorded video played as a live stream: encode the file as an upload-quality source first, then use a live-streaming method or service to send it to YouTube.
Recommended settings for a normal YouTube upload
YouTube’s recommended upload profile is a guideline, not a list of mandatory acceptance requirements. The table values below are YouTube recommendations current on the page accessed in 2026; the page’s publication date is not stated.
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Video and container
- Container: MP4.
- Video codec: H.264, High Profile. YouTube’s profile also specifies CABAC, two consecutive B frames, and a closed GOP with GOP length half the frame rate.
- Scan: progressive. Deinterlace interlaced footage before uploading.
- Frame rate: keep the rate at which the footage was recorded. YouTube Help says, “Content should be encoded and uploaded in the same frame rate it was recorded.” Avoid frame-rate conversion unless your project requires it.
- Chroma: 4:2:0.
- Bitrate mode: variable bitrate (VBR). YouTube does not specify a recommended minimum bitrate for uploads because suitable bitrate depends on the codec; use the table as a quality target rather than a minimum gate.
- Aspect ratio: preserve the source’s native shape. 16:9 is standard for the computer player, but YouTube’s player adapts to vertical and square video. Do not add bars solely to force a different aspect ratio.
SDR video bitrate recommendations
| Resolution | 24, 25, or 30 fps | 48, 50, or 60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
These are YouTube’s SDR upload recommendations, accessed in 2026; publication date not stated. Match the frame-rate column to the exported video. A 1080p file at 60 fps, for example, uses the 48/50/60 fps recommendation, not the 24/25/30 fps figure.
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HDR video bitrate recommendations
| Resolution | 24, 25, or 30 fps | 48, 50, or 60 fps |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
These are YouTube’s HDR upload recommendations, accessed in 2026; publication date not stated. Do not select HDR export settings for SDR footage just to use the higher numbers: HDR requires a correctly mastered source and matching metadata.
Audio settings
- Use a 48 kHz sample rate.
- YouTube lists AAC-LC, Opus, or Eclipsa Audio as upload audio options.
- Recommended audio bitrates are 128 kbps mono, 384 kbps stereo, and 512 kbps 5.1. Eclipsa Audio is listed at 128 kbps per channel.
How to export the file in an editing app
The labels vary by editor, but the settings you need are format/container, frame size, frame rate, codec, bitrate, audio, and color space. In Adobe Premiere, its export controls include these categories; hardware encoding is the default for H.264 and HEVC when the computer supports the requested settings, otherwise Premiere switches to software encoding. You do not need a particular editor if yours exposes equivalent export options.
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- Open the final sequence’s export dialog. Choose MP4 as the format or container.
- Set frame size and frame rate to match the finished timeline and source. Avoid changing native aspect ratio or frame rate just to match a generic preset.
- Choose H.264 and progressive output. If the app exposes profile options, select High Profile. Use the YouTube bitrate recommendation for your resolution and frame-rate band.
- Set audio deliberately. Choose an upload-compatible audio codec, 48 kHz, and a suitable channel layout and bitrate.
- Check color settings before exporting. For SDR, use BT.709. Ensure transfer characteristics, primaries, and matrix correspond to how the footage was mastered.
- Export and inspect the resulting file. Check that picture shape, frame rate, audio sync, and color look as intended before upload.
- Upload, then allow processing time. Higher resolutions can take several hours to become available; playback options can also depend on a viewer’s device and browser.
FFmpeg is a command-line alternative for conversion and re-encoding, but a safe command depends on the source’s video and audio streams, color handling, and desired output. Avoid copying a generic command without checking those details.
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Color settings and HDR metadata
SDR
YouTube recommends BT.709 for SDR uploads. Its guidance warns against an RGB color matrix; unsupported color spaces may be converted to BT.709. Keep transfer characteristics, primaries, and matrix values consistent with the way the video was mastered so the platform is not given conflicting color information.
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HDR
HDR uploads need correct HDR metadata, including the right transfer function (PQ or HLG), Rec. 2020 color primaries, and Rec. 2020 non-constant-luminance matrix. YouTube lists MOV, MP4, and MKV containers and recommends VP9 Profile 2, AV1, or HEVC/H.265 for efficient 10-bit HDR encoding. ProRes 422, ProRes 4444, DNxHR HQX, and 10-bit H.264 are also listed as options, but may require much higher bitrates and longer processing. Do not label an SDR master as HDR.
Live YouTube encoder settings are different
For a live broadcast sent to YouTube, use the live encoder guidance, not the upload profile. YouTube’s live settings, accessed in 2026 (page publication date not stated), recommend CBR, support H.264, HEVC, or AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, and recommend RTMPS because it encrypts data to and through YouTube’s servers.
Keyframes and frame rate
- Set keyframe interval to 2 seconds; YouTube says the interval should not exceed 4 seconds.
- Use up to 60 fps, as supported by the live encoder settings.
- Test the stream before the event so you can spot connection or encoder problems before going live.
Example live bitrate recommendations
| Live resolution and frame rate | H.264 | AV1 or H.265/HEVC |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 4K30 | 42 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 4K60 | 50 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s recommended live ingestion bitrates, accessed in 2026; publication date not stated. Consult the live settings table for other supported resolutions and frame rates, and choose the figure for the codec you are actually sending. Do not confuse these figures with upload bitrates: for example, YouTube’s recommended 1080p60 upload bitrate is 12 Mbps, while its live H.264 recommendation for 1080p60 is 17 Mbps.
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YouTube’s live settings guidance identifies H.265/HEVC for HDR; AV1 is not supported for HDR live streaming. HDR live output also requires a compatible HDR source and encoder.
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Troubleshooting export and playback problems
- The video looks softer than expected: check that you exported at the intended resolution and selected the correct bitrate band; remember YouTube re-encodes uploads. Give higher resolutions time to finish processing before judging final playback.
- The motion looks uneven: confirm the export frame rate matches the recording and that you did not unintentionally convert it.
- Black bars or a cropped picture appear: compare the export aspect ratio with the source. Preserve the source shape instead of forcing 16:9.
- Colors look wrong: verify SDR is tagged BT.709 and that the color matrix and transfer metadata agree with the master. For HDR, verify the transfer function, Rec. 2020 primaries, and matrix metadata.
- HDR is not offered or looks like SDR: confirm that the source and export are genuinely HDR, the encoder supports the chosen workflow, and the required metadata is present.
- Audio is missing or out of sync: check the exported audio stream, channel layout, sample rate, and that the correct timeline range was exported.
- Live stream buffers or fails to connect: verify the live bitrate matches the resolution, frame rate, and codec; use CBR, the recommended keyframe interval, and RTMPS. Run a test stream before the actual broadcast.
- High-quality playback is not available immediately: YouTube may still be processing higher resolutions; device or browser support can also limit playback choices.
Copyright, reused content, and channel eligibility
Encoding settings do not grant rights to the music, footage, or other material in a video, and a technically valid file does not guarantee monetization or live-stream eligibility. Before publishing or looping recordings, confirm you have the necessary rights and review YouTube’s current copyright, live-streaming, and monetization policies. Repeatedly streaming material you do not own or have permission to use can create copyright and channel-policy risks; the choice of codec or bitrate does not remove them.
For a pre-upload check, use the copyright safety checklist. To estimate transfer time for a large export, use the upload-time calculator; to compare the cost of cloud streaming with keeping a PC running, use the cloud vs PC cost calculator.
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