Export settings, exactly.
Pick your editor and where the video is going. You get the codec, bitrate, frame rate, keyframes and audio to use, and the clicks to set them, from each platform's own published specs.
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.
Set it 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).
YouTube upload limits
Each value links to where it was published.
Browse by editing app and platform, or work out a file size with the bitrate calculator.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best export settings for YouTube?
H.264 High profile in an MP4, at your recorded frame rate, with variable bitrate: YouTube's published rate is 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24-30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48-60 fps, 35-45 / 53-68 Mbps for 4K. Audio AAC-LC at 48 kHz, 384 kbps stereo. Pick YouTube above to get the exact clicks for your editor.
Why does my video look worse after uploading?
Every platform re-encodes uploads. Starting from a clean file at the right resolution, frame rate and bitrate gives that encoder the most to work with. Too little bitrate shows blocks in fast motion; too much only makes the upload slower, and some platforms (Meta: 25 Mbps for Reels and Stories) publish a maximum.
Are these numbers official?
Each value is labelled. Official means it is on the platform's own help or developer page (linked under the limits). Where a platform publishes nothing, the value is a conservative community-tested recommendation and marked that way. We re-check every platform and editing app once a month.
Should I export HEVC (H.265) or H.264?
H.264 for SDR uploads: every platform accepts it and it is what most of them recommend. HEVC Main10 when you deliver HDR (YouTube, Vimeo, Bilibili) or need smaller masters.
Is this tool free?
Yes. It runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded or stored.
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