Short answer: it depends mainly on the bitrate of your local recording and how long you keep it. At a constant bitrate, estimate decimal storage with GB ≈ bitrate in Mbps × hours × 0.45. Recording continuously, each 1 Mbps uses about 10.8 GB per day or 3.94 TB per 365-day year, before overhead and headroom.
Estimate storage from your recording bitrate
Use the bitrate of the file you are recording locally—not automatically the bitrate of a YouTube upload or stream. If your local recording uses the same encoded stream as your live output, the live bitrate is a useful estimate. Otherwise, use the local recording setting or measure a representative file.
The formula assumes a constant bitrate and decimal units (1 GB = 1 billion bytes; 1 TB = 1,000 GB):
Approximate GB = bitrate in Mbps × recording hours × 0.45
#1 Best Overall
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 14.1" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy ergonomic support with the integrated cushioned wrist rest.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a sleek black carbon color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.8 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
For a continuous channel, multiply the bitrate by 10.8 for approximate GB per day, or by 3.94 for approximate TB across 365 days. These are arithmetic estimates, not measured file sizes. Leave extra capacity for filesystem and recording overhead, variable-size files, and any safety margin.
Example storage for common gaming stream settings
YouTube’s live encoder guidance recommends different H.264 bitrates by resolution and frame rate. Applying the formula to those live rates gives these approximate local archive sizes for continuous recording:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
| Live output | YouTube recommended H.264 live bitrate | Approximate storage per day | Approximate storage per 365-day year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 184 GB | 67 TB |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps | 367 GB | 134 TB |
| 2160p60 (4K60) | 50 Mbps | 540 GB | 197 TB |
These figures use YouTube’s H.264 live-ingest recommendations, not a guarantee that every local recording will have exactly that bitrate. YouTube lists different live rates for AV1 and H.265, so use the relevant codec row rather than applying the H.264 examples to another codec. Its separate SDR upload recommendations include 12 Mbps for 1080p high-frame-rate video and 24 Mbps for 1440p high-frame-rate video; those are upload encoding recommendations, not live-ingest rates.
Choose retention before buying storage
Capacity depends on both how much you record and how long you keep it. A month of continuous footage is roughly one-twelfth of the annual estimate; keeping two copies doubles the storage requirement. For a real drive or NAS decision, calculate the archive you want to retain, then compare usable capacity after any redundancy—not just the capacity printed on the box.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Note: Not suitable for MacBooks released after 2023 or devices with a protruding front camera; Not applicable to full-screen or notch-style tempered glass screen protectors; Do not use on the rear camera of the phone.
- 💻 Why Do You Need a Webcam Cover Slide? — Safeguard your privacy by covering your webcam with our reliable webcam cover when not in use. Don't let anyone secretly watch you. Stay protected!
- ✅ Thin & Stylish — Enhance your laptop's functionality and aesthetics with our 0.027" ultra-thin webcam covers. Seamlessly close your laptop while adding a touch of sophistication.
- ✅ Fits Most Devices — Compatible with laptops, phones, tablets, desktops! Keep your privacy intact on Ap/ple, Mac/Book, iPh/one, iP/ad, H/P, L/novo, De/ll, Ac/er, As/us, Sa/msung devices.
- ✅ 365 Days Protection — Our upgraded 3.0 adhesive ensures a strong hold that won't damage your equipment. Experience reliable, long-term privacy protection day in and day out.
- Decide whether you need local VODs and set a retention period.
- Calculate daily and annual volume using the local recording bitrate, then multiply by the number of simultaneous copies.
- Account for usable capacity, drive-failure recovery, expansion options, and whether storage must remain attached to the recording system.
- Keep headroom and validate the estimate by recording a representative gaming session with your intended settings and measuring its actual file size.
Variable-bitrate or quality-based recording can create files that differ from the constant-bitrate estimate, and gaming scenes may vary in complexity. A sample recording is the most useful check before committing to a capacity.
Why YouTube’s archive is not a complete 24/7 backup
YouTube says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but a stream that exceeds 12 hours may not be captured at all. YouTube recommends recording a local archive as a backup. If preserving a complete 24/7 history matters, do not assume a single uninterrupted broadcast will reliably become a complete platform VOD; plan local capture or deliberate stream sessions.
Rank #4
- Anti-Slip Surface - Transform your laptop into a mobile workstation with the AboveTEK portable laptop lap desk. The anti-slip surface provides a strong grip for laptops up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), while the double rubber strip on the bottom ensures a stable display or typing experience on your lap, couch, or bed.
- Retractable Mouse Pad - Retractable laptop mouse pad extends on both directions for the left/right handed with elevation along the edges for stopping mouse from falling off. The size of laptop tray is 14" X 9.7" and the size of mouse pad is 7.4" X 6.1".
- Effective Heat Shield - The effective heat shield made of sturdy and thick material protects your laptop from overheating. Prioritizes your comfort and safety, an ideal lap pad or board for working anywhere.
- EASY to Carry and Store - With an ergonomic and simplistic design, the lap desk is portable to store in a backpack. Only 15" in size, 2.2 lb of weight and with slim 0.6 inch thickness, it is ready to be easily carried around.
- Widely Applicable - The smooth platform accommodates laptops and tablets up to 15.6 inches(Diagonal), making it a versatile accessory and one of the best gifts for mom, dad, students and professionals. Perfect for use as a laptop bed tray or tablet holder anywhere at home, library, or park.
Source: YouTube Help: Archive live streams.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep uploaded gaming VODs playing as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo can loop them from the cloud: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home. It streams your uploads as made, up to 4K 60fps at one price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Storage in this service is not a substitute for a separately managed local VOD archive if you need to keep original recordings.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.14 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
See StreamNeo or start your free first day.
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.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
