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An Nginx RTMP relay does not add a fixed bandwidth multiplier: in a simple one-input, one-destination setup, the stream uses about its encoded bitrate on each network leg. For example, a 5 Mbps feed uses roughly 5 Mbps from your encoder to the relay and 5 Mbps from the relay to YouTube. The relay host therefore receives about 5 Mbps and sends about 5 Mbps; a direct encoder-to-YouTube stream needs only the outgoing leg.
Estimate bandwidth from the stream bitrate
The encoded bitrate is the key number. Treat each link that carries the stream as a separate leg, and allow additional capacity for protocol overhead and other network traffic. These are planning estimates, not guaranteed service-speed requirements.
- Direct upload: the encoder needs upload capacity for one outgoing stream to YouTube.
- One-input, one-output relay: the encoder uploads one copy to Nginx, and Nginx uploads one copy to YouTube. Each leg carries roughly the stream bitrate.
- Relay host traffic: count incoming and outgoing traffic separately. For a 5 Mbps feed, that is approximately 5 Mbps received plus 5 Mbps sent.
- Multiple destinations: each additional destination adds roughly one outgoing copy from the relay.
Do not multiply the broadcaster’s upload by the number of YouTube viewers. YouTube distributes the stream to viewers; the origin relay does not send an individual copy to each viewer.
YouTube’s recommended ingest bitrates
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists the following recommended ingest bitrates. They are recommendations, not hard minimum internet speeds; choose settings for the codec, resolution, frame rate, and quality target you actually use. YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance also lists lower minimum bitrate settings.
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| Resolution and frame rate | H.264 recommended | AV1 / H.265 recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) at 60 fps | 50 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| 2160p (4K) at 30 fps | 42 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 34 Mbps | 24 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 21 Mbps | 15 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
For example, using YouTube’s H.264 recommendation, a 1080p30 relay carries about 14 Mbps on the encoder-to-relay leg and about 14 Mbps on the relay-to-YouTube leg. A 1080p60 feed at the recommended 17 Mbps uses about 17 Mbps on each leg. For direct upload, only the encoder’s outgoing leg applies.
Convert Mbps into data per hour
For a steady stream, estimate decimal data transfer with this formula:
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GB per hour ≈ bitrate in Mbps × 0.45
These calculated figures describe one network leg, or one copy of the stream. They assume a steady bitrate and exclude protocol overhead and additional copies.
| Bitrate | Approximate data per hour, per leg |
|---|---|
| 5 Mbps | 2.25 GB |
| 10 Mbps | 4.5 GB |
| 14 Mbps | 6.3 GB |
| 17 Mbps | 7.65 GB |
| 50 Mbps | 22.5 GB |
For a relay’s combined traffic estimate, add the received and sent copies. A one-input, one-output relay carrying 5 Mbps therefore transfers roughly 4.5 GB per hour inbound and 4.5 GB per hour outbound, or 9 GB per hour combined before overhead. This calculation does not establish how an ISP or server provider bills traffic; check the provider’s policy for the relevant account and region.
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What Nginx RTMP changes
NGINX documents RTMP as functionality provided by a third-party RTMP module, whose documentation describes RTMP, HLS, and DASH support. The NGINX RTMP module documentation does not establish a universal bandwidth multiplier. In a straightforward relay that forwards the encoded stream without transcoding, each leg carries approximately the same bitrate.
If your workflow transcodes the feed or creates multiple renditions, account for each output at its own bitrate. The number of destinations also matters: one outgoing copy per destination is a useful planning estimate. The topology—not the presence of Nginx alone—determines how many links carry the feed.
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Plan capacity and test the real stream
- Use the actual encoder bitrate. Resolution by itself is not enough to determine bandwidth; codec and frame rate matter too.
- Measure available upload capacity. Compare the measured upload with the stream bitrate and retain headroom for overhead and other traffic. There is no single headroom percentage established here for every connection.
- Test under representative conditions. Include typical game motion and audio. YouTube recommends running a speed test and testing the real stream before an event. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- Check stream health while live. YouTube’s guidance recommends monitoring the stream. Its LiveStreams API health status can identify issues such as low bitrate, mismatched frame rate, missing audio, or bitrate settings outside recommendations. YouTube LiveStreams API documentation.
Protocol and settings that affect planning
YouTube recommends RTMPS, which its developer documentation describes as regular RTMP tunneled through SSL, using the RTMPS ingestion URL and port 443. The cited documentation does not quantify protocol overhead, so do not assume a precise overhead percentage; leave reasonable capacity beyond the encoded bitrate. YouTube RTMPS ingestion guide.
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists CBR, a recommended 2-second keyframe frequency (not over 4 seconds), and 128 Kbps stereo audio. It also says encoder settings are detected automatically by default and recommends testing with representative audio and motion. These settings help configure a compatible stream; they do not change the basic rule that each network leg carries roughly one encoded copy unless the workflow creates additional outputs.
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Keep a YouTube stream running without a home relay
If your goal is a prerecorded, continuously looping YouTube stream rather than an Nginx setup you manage, StreamNeo is a cloud option. Upload a recording or create a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; the cloud handles the loop, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. StreamNeo streams to YouTube only and plays uploaded videos rather than broadcasting a camera. Its plans use one flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encoding or quality tiers, and it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. For a continuous stream, the monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or StreamNeo pricing. Start the free first day.
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