For a local recording, estimate storage with bitrate in Mbps × recording hours × 0.45 = decimal GB. At 1 Mbps, a continuous recording uses about 10.8 GB per day. A 24/7 prerecorded channel’s source-video library is different: add the sizes of the files in its rotation; it does not need 24 hours of unique footage.
First decide which storage you mean
A 24/7 prerecorded YouTube Live channel can involve two separate storage needs:
- Source library: the video files you upload or keep available for rotation. Add their file sizes. Replaying the same playlist does not multiply the storage needed for those source files.
- Local archive: a recording of the outgoing stream. Estimate this from the bitrate actually written to disk and the time you retain it.
YouTube recommends keeping a local archive backup. Its archive guidance says streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, while streams exceeding 12 hours may not be captured at all. A continuous channel should not rely on one uninterrupted YouTube archive as its only retained copy. YouTube Help: Archive live streams
Calculate local recording storage
Use this formula for decimal gigabytes (GB): recorded bitrate (Mbps) × hours × 0.45 = approximate GB. For a full day, that becomes bitrate × 10.8 = approximate GB per day. Multiply the daily estimate by the number of days you plan to keep recordings.
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The conversion comes from 1 Mbps equaling 1,000,000 bits per second: divide by 8 to get bytes, then multiply by 3,600 seconds per hour. That is 450,000,000 bytes, or 0.45 decimal GB, per hour. The estimates scale linearly with bitrate and duration.
| Recorded bitrate | Approx. per hour | Approx. per day | Approx. 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mbps | 0.45 GB | 10.8 GB | 324 GB |
| 4 Mbps | 1.8 GB | 43.2 GB | 1.30 TB |
| 6 Mbps | 2.7 GB | 64.8 GB | 1.94 TB |
| 8 Mbps | 3.6 GB | 86.4 GB | 2.59 TB |
| 10 Mbps | 4.5 GB | 108 GB | 3.24 TB |
| 14 Mbps | 6.3 GB | 151.2 GB | 4.54 TB |
| 17 Mbps | 7.65 GB | 183.6 GB | 5.51 TB |
These are decimal estimates (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), not guaranteed file sizes. Actual output depends on the encoder’s recorded bitrate, whether the displayed bitrate includes audio, bitrate variation, and file/container overhead.
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What YouTube’s recommended bitrates mean for disk space
YouTube’s current official live-encoder guidance recommends the following H.264 ingestion bitrates. If a local recording uses the same bitrate continuously, the resulting storage estimates are:
| H.264 stream setting | YouTube recommended bitrate | Approx. local recording per day | Approx. local recording per 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 6 Mbps | 64.8 GB | 1.94 TB |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | 86.4 GB | 2.59 TB |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 151.2 GB | 4.54 TB |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 183.6 GB | 5.51 TB |
The recommended bitrates above are for H.264 ingestion, not universal settings for every codec. YouTube lists separate recommendations for AV1 and H.265; use the relevant codec row rather than applying an H.264 figure to another encoder format. YouTube also transcodes live streams into multiple viewer formats, so estimate disk use from the bitrate your recording software actually writes, not from the set of playback renditions available to viewers. YouTube Help: Live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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Choose a retention target and leave working space
- Check the actual recording bitrate in your encoder or recording software. Include audio if its displayed figure excludes the audio track.
- Multiply the bitrate by the recording hours and by 0.45 to estimate decimal GB.
- Multiply that result by the number of days you intend to retain recordings.
- Choose capacity above the calculated total. Leave free space for bitrate peaks, overhead, operating files, and other content instead of filling a drive to its listed capacity.
- Monitor the local archive while it records and verify that the resulting files remain intact. YouTube’s streaming tips say to check that the local archive file size is growing. YouTube Help: YouTube live streaming tips
YouTube’s recommendation to leave 20 percent upload-bandwidth headroom is about network reliability, not disk capacity; it should not be added as a storage rule. YouTube Help: YouTube live streaming tips
Storage choices for source files and archives
An external hard drive or another local device can hold source assets or the local archive backup. Size it from the bitrate and retention calculation rather than from the label “24/7.” Network storage may suit a large archive shared across machines, but YouTube’s cited guidance does not require a NAS.
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YouTube’s encoder help page names the AJA HELO Plus as an example of a compact H.264 encoder that can record to SD cards, USB storage, or network locations and schedule prerecorded media. It is an optional hardware example, not a requirement for a software-based setup. YouTube Help: Live streaming with an encoder
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or let it run in the cloud
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