For YouTube Live, use the bitrate YouTube recommends for your chosen codec, resolution, and frame rate—not a universal AV1-to-H.264 conversion. At 1080p60, YouTube recommends 12 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 17 Mbps for H.264; at 1080p30, it recommends 10 Mbps and 14 Mbps, respectively. These are platform ingest recommendations, not proof that the codecs deliver equal visual quality at those rates. Choose a rate your encoder and upload connection can sustain, leave bandwidth headroom, and test with representative motion before going live.
YouTube’s recommended bitrate by resolution and frame rate
YouTube Help’s live encoder settings, accessed October 3, 2026, groups AV1 and H.265/HEVC in one bitrate column. The figures below are recommended and minimum video ingest rates in Mbps; minimums are not equivalent to recommended targets.
| Resolution and frame rate | AV1/H.265 minimum | AV1/H.265 recommended | H.264 minimum | H.264 recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) at 60 fps | 10 | 35 | 14 | 50 |
| 2160p (4K) at 30 fps | 8 | 30 | 11 | 42 |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 6 | 24 | 8 | 34 |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 5 | 15 | 7 | 21 |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 4 | 12 | 6 | 17 |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 4 | 10 | 5 | 14 |
| 720p at 60 fps | 2 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 720p at 30 fps | 2 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 480p at 30 fps | 0.3 | 3 | 0.4 | 4 |
| 360p at 30 fps | 0.3 | 3 | 0.4 | 4 |
Source: YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. The table describes YouTube’s ingest settings; it does not claim AV1 and H.265 behave identically or establish a controlled quality comparison with H.264.
What the AV1 and H.264 numbers mean
At 1080p60
YouTube’s recommended ingest rate is 12 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 17 Mbps for H.264. Its listed minimums are 4 Mbps and 6 Mbps, respectively. Treat the lower figures as minimums, not as the preferred target for a dependable, representative stream.
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At 1080p30
The recommended rates are 10 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 14 Mbps for H.264; the listed minimums are 4 Mbps and 5 Mbps. Match the row to your actual frame rate rather than assuming that every 1080p stream uses the same rate.
Does AV1 use less bitrate for the same quality?
The table recommends lower ingest rates for AV1/H.265 than for H.264 at each listed matching resolution and frame rate. It does not measure equal-quality output, promise a particular efficiency percentage, or guarantee that a specific AV1 stream will look better. YouTube also transcodes live streams into different playback formats, so the codec and bitrate you send are ingest settings—not necessarily the format or bitrate each viewer receives.
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Check codec, protocol, and picture settings
YouTube’s live encoder settings page lists RTMP/RTMPS and H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 as supported options. It lists frame rates up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that must not exceed four seconds. For HDR, YouTube lists H.265/HEVC and says AV1 is not supported. At 3840×2160 and above, AV1 streams need at least two tile columns.
- Use progressive scan and square pixels.
- For SDR, use Rec. 709 and 8-bit color; YouTube lists 10-bit for HDR.
- YouTube lists AAC or MP3 audio. 5.1 surround over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only with AAC.
- Confirm that both your encoder and chosen ingest path support the codec you select; a supported YouTube setting alone does not ensure your particular software or hardware can send it.
For the full current settings, consult YouTube’s live encoder settings page.
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Choose a bitrate your connection can sustain
The recommended number only helps if your outbound connection can carry the complete stream steadily. YouTube advises testing upload speed specifically, since download speeds are often higher, and leaving 20% bandwidth headroom. Shared network use can reduce the capacity available to your encoder. If you configure a backup stream, account for its bandwidth as well as the primary stream and headroom.
- Choose the output first. Select the resolution and frame rate you actually need, then use the matching row in the table.
- Check support. Verify codec, protocol, HDR needs, and encoder capabilities. Do not select AV1 for an HDR stream under YouTube’s listed settings.
- Measure outbound capacity. Make sure your available upload can carry the stream rate with headroom, including any configured backup stream.
- Run a representative test. Include audio and movement similar to the real programme, then check stream health and encoder messages. YouTube’s guidance says: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.”
- Adjust if it is unstable. Reassess resolution or frame rate, or choose a lower supported setting, and test again. Switching codecs alone cannot fix an upload connection or encoder that cannot sustain the stream.
YouTube’s advice is to “Leave a bit of room (20% recommended).” See YouTube’s streaming tips for its bandwidth guidance.
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When to choose each codec
- Choose AV1 when your encoder and ingest workflow support it, the stream is not HDR, and the recommended rate fits your measured upload capacity.
- Choose H.264 when it is the option your available encoder or workflow supports, using YouTube’s H.264 recommendation for the selected output.
- Reconsider the output settings if neither codec’s recommended rate is sustainable. Lower resolution or frame rate and retest rather than relying on a minimum bitrate as a guarantee of quality or stability.
YouTube describes encoder workflows as useful for gameplay, external audio/video equipment, and productions using multiple cameras and microphones. Encoders may be software or standalone hardware; an external HDMI camera or console may require additional equipment to bring its signal into a computer, but that is a workflow need, not an AV1 or H.264 requirement. YouTube’s overview is at Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Common bitrate and codec problems
- Stream drops or reports unstable connection: Check measured outbound bandwidth, competing network traffic, and configured backup-stream capacity. Reduce the selected output rate or resolution if the connection cannot sustain it, leaving the recommended headroom.
- Encoder rejects AV1 or H.264: Confirm codec support in the encoder and protocol workflow, then select a supported combination. YouTube’s support for a codec does not mean every encoder supports it.
- HDR setup fails with AV1: YouTube’s listed HDR settings do not support AV1. Use a listed HDR codec, or use SDR if that suits the production.
- Motion looks poor despite a bitrate that meets the minimum: The minimum is not the recommended target. Check the matching recommendation, encoder output, and test footage with similar movement before the event.
- 4K low-latency option is unavailable: YouTube says 2160p streams cannot use low-latency optimization and are set to normal latency.
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