Long-form video · Global

YouTube export settings and upload specs.

What YouTube publishes about long-form upload (sdr) uploads, with a link to each source, and the settings we would export with.

Recommended export

Official

1920 x 1080 · 30 fps · H.264 High level 4.0 · 8 Mbps VBR · keyframe every 0.5 s · AAC 384 kbps 48 kHz · Rec. 709 (BT.709), 8-bit 4:2:0, limited (TV) range

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

Change resolution, fps or HDR in the generator

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

YouTube recommended upload bitrates

Copied from YouTube's "recommended upload encoding settings" page. Standard = 24, 25, 30 fps; high = 48, 50, 60 fps.

Resolution	SDR standard	SDR high	HDR standard	HDR high
8K	80-160 Mbps	120-240 Mbps	100-200 Mbps	150-300 Mbps
2160p	35-45 Mbps	53-68 Mbps	44-56 Mbps	66-85 Mbps
1440p	16 Mbps	24 Mbps	20 Mbps	30 Mbps
1080p	8 Mbps	12 Mbps	10 Mbps	15 Mbps
720p	5 Mbps	7.5 Mbps	6.5 Mbps	9.5 Mbps
480p	2.5 Mbps	4 Mbps	Not supported	Not supported
360p	1 Mbps	1.5 Mbps	Not supported	Not supported

Good to know about YouTube

4K uploads play in 4K only on browsers and devices that support VP9 (per s1).
Audio sample rate on the current page is 48 kHz only; older versions also listed 96 kHz.

YouTube export settings by editing app

Other YouTube formats

Frequently asked questions

What are the best export settings for YouTube?

1920 x 1080, 30 fps, H.264 High, 8 Mbps VBR, AAC 384 kbps at 48 kHz, in an MP4. YouTube's published upload bitrate for this resolution and frame rate.

What is YouTube's maximum file size?

256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.

How long can a YouTube video be?

12 hours; uploads over 15 minutes need a verified account.

What aspect ratio does YouTube use?

16:9 is standard on computers; vertical and square videos are supported and the player adapts.

Shinel Studios

Rather send the footage and get YouTube-ready edits back?

Our editors cut, caption, colour and export to each platform's spec, with 2 revision rounds. Shorts come back in 48-72 hours, long videos in 5-10 days.

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