Premiere Pro · YouTube

Premiere Pro export settings for YouTube.

1920 x 1080 at 30 fps, H.264, 8 Mbps and AAC 384 kbps: here is why, and exactly where each setting lives in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Premiere Pro to YouTube

Official

Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Frame rate: 30 fps, constant
Codec: H.264, profile High, level 4.0
Bitrate: VBR, 2 pass: target 8 Mbps (8000 kbps), max 12 Mbps
Keyframes: Every 0.5 s = 15 frames, 2 B-frames, closed GOP
Audio: AAC-LC, 384 kbps, 48 kHz, stereo
Colour: Rec. 709 (BT.709), 8-bit 4:2:0, limited (TV) range
Container: MP4 with Fast Start (moov atom at the front)

YouTube's published upload bitrate for this resolution and frame rate.

Estimated size: 635.1 MB for 10:00.

Change resolution or fps File size

Step by step in Premiere Pro

1Select the sequence in the Timeline, then open the Export tab at the top of the window (or File > Export > Media, Ctrl+M / Cmd+M).
2In Settings, set Format to H.264 and pick a Match Source preset as the starting point.
3Set the file name and Location. The container is .mp4.
4Open Video. Untick Match Source where needed and set Frame Size to 1920 x 1080 and Frame Rate to 30.
5Under Encoding Settings set Profile to High and Level to 4.0. Software encoding tracks the target bitrate more closely than hardware encoding.
6Under Bitrate Settings set Bitrate Encoding to VBR, 2 pass, Target Bitrate to 8 Mbps, Maximum Bitrate 12 Mbps.
7Under Advanced Settings tick Key Frame Distance and enter 15 frames (0.5 s at 30 fps).
8Open Audio: Audio Format AAC, Sample Rate 48000 Hz, Channels Stereo, Bitrate 384 kbps.
9Check the estimated file size at the bottom, then click Export (or Send to Media Encoder to queue it).

Bitrate at other resolutions

Same settings, different size or frame rate.

Resolution	30 fps	60 fps
720p	5 Mbps, level 3.1	7.5 Mbps, level 3.2
1080p	8 Mbps, level 4.0	12 Mbps, level 4.2
1440p	16 Mbps, level 5.0	24 Mbps, level 5.1
2160p	35 Mbps, level 5.1	53 Mbps, level 5.2

YouTube upload limits

Each value links to where it was published.

Aspect ratio

16:9 is standard on computers; vertical and square videos are supported and the player adapts YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Resolution

Upload at source resolution; bitrate table covers 360p to 8K (e.g. 1920 x 1080, 3840 x 2160) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Frame rate

Upload at the recorded frame rate; common rates 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60. Deinterlace first (1080i60 to 1080p30) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Video codec

H.264, progressive, High Profile, 2 consecutive B-frames, closed GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, VBR, 4:2:0 YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Container

MP4, no edit lists, moov atom at the front of the file (Fast Start) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Bitrate

1080p: 8 Mbps (24-30 fps) / 12 Mbps (48-60 fps); 2160p: 35-45 / 53-68 Mbps. No bitrate limit required (VBR) YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Max file size

256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less Upload videos longer than 15 minutes, checked 2026-10-25

Max length

12 hours; uploads over 15 minutes need a verified account Upload videos longer than 15 minutes, checked 2026-10-25

Audio

AAC-LC, Opus or Eclipsa Audio; stereo, stereo + 5.1 or stereo + Eclipsa; 48 kHz; 128 kbps mono, 384 kbps stereo, 512 kbps 5.1 YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Colour / HDR

BT.709 primaries, transfer and matrix. RGB matrix not recommended. BT.2020 without HDR transfer is converted to 8-bit BT.709 YouTube recommended upload encoding settings, checked 2026-10-25

Common mistakes

Typing 0.5 into Premiere Pro's keyframe field. It counts frames, not seconds: at 30 fps that is 15.
Exporting "HDR" from an SDR grade. Only pick HDR when the timeline was graded in Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG; otherwise YouTube shows flat or over-bright colour.
Leaving phone footage at a variable frame rate. Export at a constant 30 fps, or audio drifts and motion stutters after YouTube re-encodes it.
Starving the upload to save time. YouTube re-encodes anyway; a higher-bitrate upload gives YouTube's encoder more to work with, especially for 4K.
Key Frame Distance is hidden under Advanced Settings and is off by default; Premiere then picks the keyframe interval itself.
Hardware-encoded HEVC usually offers only CBR and VBR, 1 pass. Use software encoding if you need VBR, 2 pass.

Frequently asked questions

What bitrate should I export from Premiere Pro for YouTube?

For 1080p at 30 fps use about 8 Mbps (8000 kbps), VBR, 2 pass, with a maximum of 12 Mbps. YouTube's published upload bitrate for this resolution and frame rate.

What resolution and frame rate should I use for YouTube?

1920 x 1080 at 30 fps is a safe choice. YouTube: Upload at source resolution; bitrate table covers 360p to 8K (e.g. 1920 x 1080, 3840 x 2160). Frame rate: Upload at the recorded frame rate; common rates 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60. Deinterlace first (1080i60 to 1080p30).

What is the maximum file size and length on YouTube?

File size: 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. Length: 12 hours; uploads over 15 minutes need a verified account.

Which codec should I pick in Premiere Pro for YouTube?

H.264, profile High, level 4.0, in an MP4 file. YouTube lists: H.264, progressive, High Profile, 2 consecutive B-frames, closed GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, VBR, 4:2:0.

Can I export HDR from Premiere Pro to YouTube?

Yes. Export HEVC (H.265) Main10 with Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG. BT.709 primaries, transfer and matrix. RGB matrix not recommended. BT.2020 without HDR transfer is converted to 8-bit BT.709.

Premiere Pro for other platforms

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