Multiply the stream’s total outgoing bitrate in megabits per second (Mbps) by the number of streaming hours, then by 0.45 to estimate decimal gigabytes (GB): GB ≈ Mbps × hours × 0.45. For example, a continuous 1 Mbps stream uses about 10.8 GB of outgoing data per day. If the stream sends both audio and video, include both bitrates.
Calculate the stream’s outgoing data
The estimate is based on the bitrate actually sent by the station’s encoder—not the bitrate of audio alone unless the stream is audio-only.
Approximate decimal GB = total outgoing bitrate in Mbps × streaming hours × 0.45
The conversion factor comes from the units: 1 Mbps sustained for one hour transfers about 450 megabytes, or 0.45 decimal GB, before overhead. These are calculated estimates, not measurements of a particular station’s network traffic.
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| Continuous bitrate | Approximate outgoing data per hour | Approximate outgoing data per day | Approximate outgoing data per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | 0.45 GB | 10.8 GB | 75.6 GB |
| 1.5 Mbps | 0.675 GB | 16.2 GB | 113.4 GB |
The table assumes the bitrate stays constant throughout each period. Actual traffic can be higher because of protocol overhead, reconnects, or bitrate variation.
Find the bitrate to use
Use the encoder’s combined rate when available
If the encoder reports a combined stream bitrate, use that figure. If it reports audio and video separately, add them first, then use the total in the formula. A radio stream with a still image, waveform, or visualizer may still send video data; calculating from audio bitrate alone would undercount it.
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Audio-only example
YouTube lists 128 kbps as a recommended stereo audio setting. At that audio rate alone, the estimate is about 57.6 MB per hour, or 1.38 GB per day, before overhead. This is an example for the audio track, not a universal total for a radio stream. Add the video bitrate if the encoder sends video.
YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends AAC or MP3 audio and constant bitrate encoding among its advanced settings. Its video bitrate tables are for video ingestion resolutions and frame rates; do not apply a video-resolution recommendation automatically to an audio-focused station. Use the configuration your encoder actually sends.
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Worked example: a month of continuous streaming
Suppose the encoder sends a total of 1.5 Mbps for 30 days:
- 1.5 Mbps × 24 hours × 30 days × 0.45 ≈ 486 decimal GB.
- If 1.5 Mbps is audio-only, the estimate covers that audio stream. If video is also sent, calculate using the combined audio-and-video bitrate instead.
- Use the result as a planning estimate; overhead, reconnects, and bitrate behavior affect actual usage.
Whose data usage does the calculation count?
This estimates the station’s outgoing contribution to YouTube. It does not add up the data used by everyone watching the stream. YouTube says it transcodes live streams into multiple output formats so viewers can watch on different devices and networks; viewers’ playback is separate from the station’s upload. YouTube Help
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If you are checking a home internet data cap, compare the estimate with your provider’s upload or total-usage accounting and units. The formula estimates stream traffic; it does not include unrelated household internet use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.GB and GiB are different units
The formula gives decimal GB, where 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes. If you need binary GiB, convert the transferred bytes by dividing by 1,073,741,824. Data-cap displays may use either convention, so check your provider’s stated units before comparing the estimate with its limit.
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Improve the estimate for your station
- Check the outgoing bitrate. Read the encoder’s combined audio-and-video rate, or add its separate audio and video rates. Convert kilobits per second to Mbps by dividing by 1,000; for example, 128 kbps is 0.128 Mbps.
- Set the streaming duration. Multiply hours per day by the number of days. For uninterrupted streaming, use 24 hours per day.
- Apply the formula. Multiply total Mbps × hours × 0.45 to get approximate decimal GB.
- Allow for variability. If the bitrate changes, use a measured average from network monitoring if available, or add a cautious allowance for overhead and reconnects. Keep decimal GB and binary GiB consistent when comparing figures.
YouTube recommends testing upload bitrate and stream quality before going live, then monitoring stream health during the event. Its encoder guidance recommends RTMP or RTMPS; RTMPS encrypts data sent to Google’s servers. See Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions. YouTube’s HLS ingestion documentation also directs readers to its bitrate guidance.
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