For a 1080p60 YouTube livestream, YouTube currently recommends 17 Mbps with H.264 or 12 Mbps with AV1 or H.265/HEVC. The recommended setting depends on the encoder codec; the bitrate is not a guarantee that your internet connection can sustain the stream or that viewers will see identical quality. YouTube Help’s live encoder guidance lists lower minimums, but those are not the recommended targets.
Recommended bitrate for 1080p60
| Encoder codec | YouTube-listed minimum | YouTube-recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265/HEVC | 4 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
These figures are current YouTube Help guidance, verified on October 3, 2026; the support page does not state a publication date. Choose the row that matches the codec selected in your encoder. For example, 12 Mbps is YouTube’s recommendation for AV1 or H.265/HEVC at 1080p60, not for H.264.
Set bitrate and related encoder options
- Select the codec: Check the video encoder settings in your streaming software and use the bitrate recommendation for that codec.
- Set a constant bitrate: YouTube lists CBR (constant bitrate) encoding for live streams.
- Set the keyframe interval: Use two seconds, YouTube’s recommended interval, and do not exceed four seconds.
- Choose a supported ingest protocol: YouTube lists RTMP and RTMPS; it recommends RTMPS as the encrypted option.
- Configure video and audio: YouTube’s guidance lists up to 60 fps, AAC or MP3 audio, square pixels, progressive scan, two B-frames, one reference frame, CABAC, and Rec. 709 for SDR.
These additional options do not replace choosing the bitrate for your codec. Check the current YouTube encoder settings guide when configuring your software.
Check whether your connection can sustain it
The bitrate is the encoder’s target, not a measurement of your available upload capacity. YouTube advises choosing a quality level your connection can reliably support and testing your upload speed. Its guidance does not give a universal upload-headroom formula, so there is no official fixed margin to apply to the recommended bitrate.
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If your upload connection fluctuates or cannot reliably sustain the selected setting, choose a lower quality level rather than assuming the recommended number will work on every network. On unreliable Wi-Fi, testing from a more stable connection, such as Ethernet, may help isolate the cause; YouTube’s cited guidance does not require a particular cable or promise that one will solve connection problems.
Test before going live and monitor stream health
- Run a private test broadcast: YouTube Help says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- Reproduce the real workload: Include audio and video movement similar to what the planned broadcast will contain. A mostly static test image may not reflect a game with fast motion.
- Check the stream health messages: Review YouTube’s feedback during the test and the live event. If warnings appear, use them to guide changes to bitrate, encoder settings, or connection quality.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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Rank #3
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