For a live 4K/60fps stream sent to YouTube, set the encoder to 35 Mbps with AV1 or H.265 (HEVC), or 50 Mbps with H.264. YouTube lists lower minimums—10 Mbps for AV1/H.265 and 14 Mbps for H.264—but those are not the recommended targets. If you mean uploading a finished 4K/60fps video, YouTube’s separate recommendations are 53–68 Mbps for SDR and 66–85 Mbps for HDR. These figures describe different workflows.
Live 4K/60fps: choose the bitrate for your encoder codec
YouTube’s live encoder guidance gives separate settings for 2160p (4K) at 60 fps, depending on the codec your encoder sends to YouTube. The figures below are ingest bitrates: they describe the stream sent from your encoder to YouTube, not a fixed bitrate delivered to viewers. YouTube transcodes live streams into multiple output formats for different devices and network conditions.
| Live ingest codec | Listed minimum | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| AV1 or H.265 (HEVC) | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s current English-language encoder recommendations, verified on October 3, 2026; the Help page does not state a publication date. Use the recommended figure for the codec actually selected in your encoder. Do not treat a listed minimum as a guarantee of acceptable image quality in every scene.
Set up a live encoder for 4K/60fps
- Set the output resolution and frame rate. For standard 16:9 4K, use 3840×2160 at 60 fps. YouTube’s listed RTMP/RTMPS encoder settings support frame rates up to 60 fps.
- Choose the live bitrate from the matching codec row. Use 35 Mbps for AV1/H.265 or 50 Mbps for H.264. The codec must match the format your encoder is actually sending.
- Set rate control to CBR. YouTube’s live encoder guidance specifies constant bitrate for these settings.
- Set the keyframe interval to two seconds. YouTube recommends two seconds and says not to exceed four seconds.
- Test the connection and stream content. YouTube Help recommends running a speed test to test your upload bitrate. Test with movement and audio similar to the planned stream, then monitor stream health during the event.
YouTube does not specify a universal upload-speed headroom multiplier in this guidance. The recommended encoder bitrate is therefore not a promise that any internet connection advertising that upload speed will hold a stable live stream.
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If you are uploading a finished 4K/60fps video
Use YouTube’s upload-encoding table rather than the live ingest table. For high-frame-rate 2160p uploads, YouTube groups 48, 50, and 60 fps together and gives different recommendations for SDR and HDR.
| Finished-video upload format | Recommended bitrate for 2160p at 48, 50, or 60 fps |
|---|---|
| SDR | 53–68 Mbps |
| HDR | 66–85 Mbps |
These upload figures are recommendations, not mandatory caps. YouTube’s upload guidance recommends variable bitrate, says no bitrate limit is required, and advises encoding and uploading at the recorded frame rate, with progressive scan and H.264 High Profile. A browser or device that supports VP9 is needed to view new 4K uploads in 4K; actual playback options depend on the device and playback conditions.
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Why live and upload bitrates differ
A live encoder bitrate is the rate used to send a real-time feed to YouTube. An upload bitrate is an encoding recommendation for a finished file. They refer to separate stages, so comparing a live minimum directly with an upload recommendation does not tell you which workflow is more demanding or what viewers will receive.
For live streams, YouTube transcodes the incoming feed into multiple output formats. A creator’s 35 or 50 Mbps ingest setting does not mean every viewer receives video at that bitrate; YouTube selects a playback format suited to the viewer’s device and network.
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Keeping a prerecorded YouTube stream running
If your goal is to loop uploaded recordings as a 24/7 YouTube stream, the bitrate question is only one part of the setup: a live encoder must keep sending the stream. You can run that encoder yourself, or use a cloud service that handles the continuous playback.
Or let it run in the cloud
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