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How to Calculate Monthly Egress for an FFmpeg YouTube Stream on a VPS

A practical formula for estimating monthly outbound transfer from an FFmpeg stream to YouTube, with bitrate examples, plan checks, and limits to the estimate.

By DocumentaryTube Team 4 min read

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Estimate a VPS stream’s monthly egress by multiplying its total outgoing bitrate—including audio—by the hours it runs. For a continuous 30-day month, each 1 Mbps uses about 324 decimal GB, before network overhead, retries, and unrelated VPS traffic. This estimates transfer volume; your provider’s plan and billing rules determine what you are charged.

Calculate the stream’s estimated transfer

Bitrate measures bits per second. Divide the total outgoing bitrate by eight to get bytes per second, then multiply by the actual streaming time:

transfer_bytes = outgoing_bits_per_second × streaming_seconds ÷ 8

For a convenient decimal-gigabyte estimate when bitrate is in megabits per second and duration is in hours:

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transfer_GB ≈ bitrate_Mbps × hours × 0.45

This uses decimal units: 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. For a continuous 30-day month, there are 720 hours, so:

transfer_GB ≈ bitrate_Mbps × 30 × 24 × 0.45 = bitrate_Mbps × 324

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For 31 continuous days, use about 334.8 GB per Mbps. For a billing cycle of another length, use its actual hours or seconds rather than assuming it is 30 days.

Choose the right bitrate

Use the configured outgoing bitrate, not resolution by itself

For an FFmpeg stream, use its configured video bitrate plus audio and any other concurrently transmitted media. Resolution is only an indirect clue: the selected bitrate depends on resolution, frame rate, codec, and encoder settings.

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YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends H.264 video at 10 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 12 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps. Its advanced settings list 128 Kbps stereo audio. If you use those video and audio values together, the nominal totals are 10.128 Mbps and 12.128 Mbps, respectively, before transport overhead. YouTube’s recommendations vary by resolution, frame rate, and codec, including H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1; consult its current live encoder settings and bitrate guidance for the configuration you plan to use.

Worked 30-day estimates

Nominal outgoing bitrate 30-day estimate What is included
10 Mbps 3,240 GB (3.24 decimal TB) Video-only estimate
12 Mbps 3,888 GB (3.888 decimal TB) Video-only estimate
10.128 Mbps About 3,281 GB (3.28 decimal TB) 10 Mbps video plus 128 Kbps stereo audio
12.128 Mbps About 3,929 GB (3.93 decimal TB) 12 Mbps video plus 128 Kbps stereo audio

These are calculations from nominal bitrate and elapsed time, not measured VPS usage. YouTube transcodes live streams into formats for viewers, but that does not mean your VPS sends each viewer rendition. Estimate the single outgoing feed from the VPS to YouTube, not the audience’s playback traffic.

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Example: 6 Mbps video plus 128 Kbps audio

The total is 6.128 Mbps. For 30 continuous days, the estimate is 6.128 × 324, or about 1,985.5 decimal GB (about 1.99 TB), before overhead and other traffic. If FFmpeg sends multiple simultaneous streams, add their outgoing bitrates or estimate each stream’s transfer and add the results.

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Check whether a VPS plan can support it

Streaming from the VPS to YouTube is outbound VPS traffic. Compare the estimate, with an operating margin, against the exact plan’s terms rather than assuming a standard monthly allowance.

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  • Included outbound transfer and the length of the billing cycle.
  • Which traffic direction counts, and whether the provider uses decimal GB, TiB, or another unit.
  • Overage charges and whether exceeding the allowance causes throttling, suspension, or another restriction.
  • Port speed and any limits on sustained throughput.
  • Region-specific conditions, if the provider varies terms by VPS location.

Bitrate estimates volume over time; it is not a measure of port speed. A stream also needs adequate sustained outbound capacity and a functioning route to YouTube. Convert the decimal estimate into the provider’s stated unit before comparing it with an allowance.

Account for what the simple estimate leaves out

The calculation assumes a steady average bitrate. It estimates media transfer, not an exact provider bill. It does not include network protocol overhead, retries, reconnects, other VPS traffic, or a concurrently sent backup stream. Allow room above the estimate; if precision matters, compare it with the provider’s transfer counter during a representative run.

YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds, and advises testing before going live and monitoring stream health. Its Live Streaming API provides health feedback, including bitrate- and keyframe-related conditions. See YouTube’s LiveStreams API documentation for stream status and health information.

YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP, for live ingestion. The API documents primary and backup ingestion addresses. Merely having a backup endpoint available does not double egress; sending a duplicate stream to another destination does. YouTube also documents live content delivery in its DASH encoding guide.

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Or let it run in the cloud

If the goal is a continuous YouTube stream of uploaded video, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative to maintaining an FFmpeg process on a VPS. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The stream runs from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot regardless of quality. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo and plan details. Start the free day on StreamNeo.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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