Best OBS Recording Settings for Low Disk Space

Running out of storage after a long recording session? OBS recordings can easily eat 50+ GB for just a few hours of gameplay. This guide shows you how to dramatically reduce file sizes without sacrificing video quality.

Why Are OBS Recordings So Large?

File size is determined by a simple formula:

At default settings, OBS often uses very high bitrates for recordings. Here's what that means in real numbers:

Bitrate	1 Hour	4 Hours
6,000 Kbps	2.7 GB	10.8 GB
20,000 Kbps	9 GB	36 GB
50,000 Kbps	22.5 GB	90 GB

5 Ways to Reduce OBS Recording Size

1. Lower Your Bitrate

The simplest fix. For most 1080p recordings, you don't need more than 15,000-20,000 Kbps. Even 10,000 Kbps looks great for gameplay.

Path: Settings → Output → Recording → Bitrate

2. Use H.265 (HEVC) Instead of H.264

H.265 provides 30-50% smaller files at the same quality. If you have a newer NVIDIA GPU (GTX 1650+), you can use NVENC HEVC with minimal performance impact.

Path: Settings → Output → Recording → Encoder → HEVC

3. Use CRF/CQP Instead of CBR

CBR (Constant Bitrate) wastes data on static scenes. CRF (for x264) or CQP (for NVENC) adjusts bitrate based on scene complexity, giving better quality per MB.

• CRF 18-23 for x264 (lower = better quality, larger file)
• CQP 18-21 for NVENC

4. Record at 30 FPS Instead of 60

Unless you're recording fast-paced competitive gameplay, 30 FPS cuts file size in half. Most YouTube content is uploaded at 30 FPS anyway.

5. Lower Resolution (If Editing Later)

If you're just capturing to edit later, consider recording at 1440p or 1080p instead of 4K. You can always upscale in post if needed.

Recommended Settings by Use Case

For YouTube/Social Media (Quality Focus)

• Encoder: NVENC HEVC or x264
• Rate Control: CQP 20 or CRF 20
• Resolution: 1080p or 1440p
• FPS: 30 or 60

For Archiving Long Streams (Size Focus)

• Encoder: x264 or NVENC
• Rate Control: CRF 23 or CQP 23
• Resolution: 1080p
• FPS: 30

Storage Tips

• Record to SSD: Faster write speeds prevent frame drops
• Use MKV format: Safer than MP4 (won't corrupt if OBS crashes)
• Remux to MP4: After recording, use File → Remux Recordings to convert MKV to MP4
• Auto-delete after upload: Set a reminder to clear old recordings weekly

Summary

The biggest wins come from switching to H.265 and using CRF/CQP instead of CBR. These two changes alone can cut file sizes by 50% or more without visible quality loss.