Choosing the right bitrate is the difference between a crisp, professional stream and a pixelated mess. This guide covers the optimal bitrate settings for every major platform and resolution.
🚀 Quick Answer for 2026
Twitch: Use 6,000 Kbps (CBR) for both 1080p and 720p 60fps.
YouTube: Use 9,000 - 12,000 Kbps for 1080p 60fps (AV1/HEVC supported).
Kick: Supports up to 8,000 Kbps for 1080p 60fps.
🧮 Get Your Perfect Bitrate
Enter your resolution and FPS to get instant bitrate recommendations.
Open Bitrate Calculator →Quick Reference: Bitrate by Platform
Twitch Bitrate Settings
| Resolution | FPS | Recommended Bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 30 | 2,500 - 4,000 Kbps |
| 720p | 60 | 3,500 - 5,000 Kbps |
| 1080p | 30 | 4,500 - 6,000 Kbps |
| 1080p | 60 | 6,000 Kbps (max) |
⚠️ Twitch Limit
Twitch has a hard cap of 6,000 Kbps. Going higher won't improve quality and may cause buffering for viewers.
YouTube Bitrate Settings
| Resolution | FPS | H.264 Bitrate | AV1 Bitrate (New) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p | 30 | 1,500 - 4,000 Kbps | 1,000 - 2,500 Kbps |
| 720p | 60 | 2,250 - 6,000 Kbps | 1,500 - 4,000 Kbps |
| 1080p | 30 | 3,000 - 6,000 Kbps | 2,000 - 4,500 Kbps |
| 1080p | 60 | 4,500 - 9,000 Kbps | 3,000 - 6,000 Kbps |
| 1440p | 60 | 9,000 - 18,000 Kbps | 6,000 - 12,000 Kbps |
| 4K | 60 | 20,000 - 51,000 Kbps | 12,000 - 30,000 Kbps |
Kick Bitrate Settings
| Resolution | FPS | Recommended Bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 60 | 4,000 - 5,000 Kbps |
| 1080p | 60 | 6,000 - 8,000 Kbps |
📊 Not Sure What Bitrate You Need?
Our calculator factors in your resolution, FPS, and content type.
Use Bitrate Calculator →Understanding Bitrate Basics
What is Bitrate?
Bitrate measures how much data is transmitted per second, measured in Kbps (kilobits per second). Higher bitrate = more data = sharper image, but also requires more upload bandwidth.
The Bitrate Formula
A rough guideline for calculating bitrate:
Bitrate = Width × Height × FPS × 0.1 ÷ 1000
For 1080p 60fps: 1920 × 1080 × 60 × 0.1 ÷ 1000 = 12,442 Kbps
But Twitch caps at 6,000, which is why 1080p60 on Twitch can look blurry during fast motion.
Upload Speed Requirements
Your upload speed should be at least 1.5× your bitrate for stable streaming:
- 6,000 Kbps stream → Need at least 9 Mbps upload
- 10,000 Kbps stream → Need at least 15 Mbps upload
Common Bitrate Mistakes
- Setting bitrate too high - Causes dropped frames and buffering
- Setting bitrate too low - Causes blocky, pixelated video
- Ignoring your upload speed - Your bitrate can't exceed your upload capacity
- Using CBR for recording - Use CRF/CQP for local recordings, CBR for streaming
FAQ
Is higher bitrate always better?
No. Higher bitrate only helps if your upload can handle it. Too high causes buffering for viewers and dropped frames for you.
Why does my 1080p stream look worse than 720p?
At Twitch's 6,000 Kbps cap, 1080p doesn't have enough data per pixel. 720p at 6,000 Kbps actually looks sharper than 1080p at the same bitrate.
What encoder should I use?
NVENC (NVIDIA) is best for most streamers - minimal performance impact. x264 gives better quality but uses more CPU. Use NVENC unless your GPU is weak.
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