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How to limit bandwidth from a 24/7 stream
A continuous encoder feed sends data from your server to YouTube for as long as the stream runs. The most direct control you have over that feed is its bitrate: a lower bitrate generally means less outgoing data, though it can also reduce image quality. Choose the codec, resolution, and frame rate first, then use YouTube’s recommendation for that combination as a starting point.
- Check your server. Identify its Hetzner Cloud product family, plan, and data-center location. Look up the current included outgoing-traffic allowance for that exact server.
- Choose the stream format. Set the intended resolution, frame rate, and codec in your encoder, then consult YouTube’s bitrate guidance below.
- Estimate monthly transfer. Calculate the stream’s expected outgoing volume for the actual calendar month, and leave room for overhead and other server egress.
- Monitor use. Check Hetzner’s traffic statistics and configure notifications if useful, but do not treat either a notice or an alert as an automatic stop.
Hetzner says its Cloud server bandwidth is not guaranteed; it says customers can expect about 300–500 Mbits, with host connectivity shared among instances. That provider expectation is separate from the monthly traffic allowance: available speed does not tell you how much traffic is included.
How much bandwidth does a 24/7 stream use?
Use this planning formula, where bitrate is in bits per second:
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traffic in bytes ≈ bitrate in bits/second × seconds streamed ÷ 8
A 30-day month has 2,592,000 seconds. The figures below are arithmetic estimates in decimal terabytes, not measured results; they assume a sustained bitrate and exclude protocol overhead and other outgoing traffic.
| Sustained bitrate | Estimated transfer in 30 days |
|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | About 0.324 TB |
| 6 Mbps | About 1.944 TB |
| 10 Mbps | About 3.24 TB |
| 12 Mbps | About 3.888 TB |
For example, at 10 Mbps: 10,000,000 bits/second × 2,592,000 seconds ÷ 8 = 3.24 trillion decimal bytes, or about 3.24 TB. Calendar months vary from 28 to 31 days, so substitute the number of seconds in the billing month for a closer estimate. Add headroom for protocol overhead, audio if it is not included in the bitrate you use, and any other traffic leaving the server.
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This estimates only the encoder feed sent to YouTube. If your server also sends the stream to mirrors, viewers, or other destinations, include those transfers too. YouTube transcodes live streams into viewer formats; viewers watching on YouTube should not be counted as traffic served directly by your Hetzner server unless your setup redistributes the feed from that server.
Choose a bitrate for the desired YouTube quality
YouTube’s published recommendations vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. These examples show why there is no single bitrate that suits every stream:
| Codec | Resolution and frame rate | YouTube recommended bitrate | Estimated 30-day transfer at that sustained rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 720p, 30 or 60 fps | 6 Mbps | About 1.944 TB |
| H.264 | 1080p, 30 fps | 14 Mbps | About 4.536 TB |
| H.264 | 1080p, 60 fps | 17 Mbps | About 5.508 TB |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 720p, 30 or 60 fps | 6 Mbps | About 1.944 TB |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 1080p, 30 fps | 10 Mbps | About 3.24 TB |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 1080p, 60 fps | 12 Mbps | About 3.888 TB |
The bitrate recommendations are from YouTube’s encoder guidance, accessed 2026-10-03. The traffic column is calculated from each bitrate over a 30-day month, not a YouTube or Hetzner measurement. Use the row matching your actual codec, resolution, and frame rate; lowering bitrate below a recommendation may reduce traffic but can also harm stream quality.
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YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted stream ingestion. Its encoder guidance also recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds), testing before going live, and monitoring stream health. For YouTube’s current settings, see YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrates.
Check the allowance for your Hetzner plan and location
Hetzner bills Cloud traffic by outgoing volume. Its billing FAQ says incoming and internal traffic are free; outgoing traffic beyond the plan’s included allowance is billed. The traffic accounting period is the calendar month. Allowances vary by product and location, so do not apply an EU figure to a US or Singapore server, or assume every plan in a product family has the same allowance.
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| Hetzner Cloud product family | EU allowance stated on Hetzner’s traffic page | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| CX | 20 TB | Hetzner documentation page last changed 2024-05-21; check the current allowance for the specific plan. |
| CPX | 20 TB | Hetzner documentation page last changed 2024-05-21; check the current allowance for the specific plan. |
| CAX | 20 TB | Hetzner documentation page last changed 2024-05-21; check the current allowance for the specific plan. |
| CCX | 20–60 TB | Varies by plan; Hetzner documentation page last changed 2024-05-21. |
These are the EU figures stated on Hetzner’s traffic page, not a universal current allowance. The same page gives lower, plan-dependent ranges for US and Singapore products. Check Hetzner’s traffic information and your actual server details before estimating charges; its page also describes overage in 100 MB blocks. Hetzner’s Cloud billing FAQ states: “We only bill for outgoing traffic. Incoming and internal traffic is free.” See Hetzner’s Cloud billing FAQ.
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Does Hetzner stop traffic at the limit?
No. Hetzner says it notifies project owners at 75% and again at 100% of included traffic, but those notifications do not cap or stop use. Cost alerts can help you track spending; they are not a traffic shutdown mechanism. Treat a warning as a prompt to inspect usage and adjust the stream, not as protection from overage.
Can I cap outgoing bandwidth with a Hetzner Cloud Firewall?
Hetzner Cloud Firewall rules filter network destinations and connections. The official documentation does not describe them as a speed shaper or a monthly byte cap, so do not rely on a Firewall rule to limit the volume of a permitted continuous stream. Hetzner’s documentation reviewed here also does not establish a specific server-side traffic-control implementation as a supported hard cap. If you require a strict limit, investigate a separately configured traffic-control solution for your server and verify its behavior before relying on it; it is not a Hetzner Firewall feature. See Hetzner’s Cloud Firewall documentation.
When a cloud streaming service is a better fit
If the main reason for running your own Hetzner server is to keep a pre-recorded YouTube stream online continuously, you can instead use StreamNeo, a cloud service that loops uploaded videos or playlists to YouTube without requiring your own server to stay on. It is always on from the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and the first day is free.
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Or let it run in the cloud
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Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on, and automatic recovery is provided if YouTube drops the stream. Every slot includes 10 GB of storage, pooled across your active slots, plus 24/7 looping and playlists; the same features apply across plans, with billing length as the difference. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
For a DIY setup, the useful cost comparison is not only Hetzner’s server price: account for included traffic, possible outgoing overage, storage, and the time needed to monitor and maintain the encoder. StreamNeo instead charges per slot, with no quality tiers up to 4K 60fps as uploaded; the exact price depends on the billing length you choose.
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