Calculator inputs
The page keeps a single-column content flow, while the input area shifts to 3 columns on large screens, 2 on medium, and 1 on mobile.
Example data table
These sample cases show how frame rate, codec choice, and compression settings reshape payload bitrate, transport demand, and storage volume.
| Scenario | Resolution | FPS | Codec | Video Mbps | Payload Mbps | Transport Mbps | Estimated Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD conference stream | 1280×720 | 30 | H.264 / AVC | 3.69 | 3.78 | 4.08 | 405.81 MB |
| Full HD live sports | 1920×1080 | 60 | H.265 / HEVC | 20.26 | 20.42 | 22.46 | 2.85 GB |
| 4K archival upload | 3840×2160 | 30 | AV1 | 23.61 | 23.80 | 25.23 | 1.33 GB |
Formula used
1) Effective bits per pixel
Bits per pixel = color depth × channel count × pixel format factor
2) Raw bitrate
Raw bitrate = width × height × bits per pixel × frame rate × streams
3) Compressed video bitrate
Compressed video bitrate = (raw bitrate ÷ compression ratio) × motion factor × complexity factor × codec factor
4) Payload and transport bitrate
Payload bitrate = compressed video bitrate + audio bitrate total
Transport bitrate = payload bitrate × (1 + overhead%)
5) Recommended network capacity
Recommended capacity = (transport bitrate ÷ utilization target) × (1 + headroom%)
6) Storage estimate
Storage bytes = payload bitrate × duration ÷ 8
This model is intentionally practical. It is designed for planning and comparison, not for replacing encoder-specific test measurements.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the active frame width and height of the stream.
- Set the frame rate and total duration you want to analyze.
- Choose the pixel format and codec profile closest to your workflow.
- Enter a realistic compression ratio based on your encoder target.
- Adjust motion and scene complexity factors to reflect actual content.
- Add audio bitrate, number of parallel streams, and protocol overhead.
- Set desired headroom and the maximum link utilization you accept.
- Press Calculate bitrate to see bandwidth, storage, transfer, and charted comparisons above the form.
FAQs
1) What does frame rate change in the estimate?
Frame rate directly scales the number of frames sent every second. If resolution and compression stay unchanged, doubling fps roughly doubles raw data and usually pushes compressed bitrate upward.
2) Why is transport bitrate higher than payload bitrate?
Payload bitrate covers encoded media. Transport bitrate adds delivery overhead such as packet headers, stream containers, and network framing. Real links must carry both, so planning should use transport numbers.
3) How should I choose a compression ratio?
Use known encoder targets, historical measurements, or trial encodes. Higher ratios mean stronger compression, but visible quality can fall if motion, detail, or noise stays high.
4) What is the purpose of the motion factor?
Motion factor adjusts the estimate for scene movement. Sports, action cameras, and rapid pans often need more bitrate than static interviews, slide decks, or screen recordings.
5) Why does pixel format matter?
Pixel format changes how much chroma data each frame keeps. Formats like 4:4:4 preserve more color detail than 4:2:0, so they push raw and compressed bitrate expectations upward.
6) Should I plan using payload bitrate or recommended capacity?
Use recommended capacity for network design. It already accounts for overhead, target utilization, and extra headroom, which creates a safer planning number than payload bitrate alone.
7) Can this calculator estimate storage for multiple streams?
Yes. Increase the parallel stream count to model duplicated feeds, monitoring outputs, or distribution branches. Storage and transfer totals scale with the combined payload volume.
8) Is this suitable for live streaming and file delivery?
Yes. It estimates link demand for live delivery and total byte volume for saved content. That makes it useful for uplinks, CDN planning, archive sizing, and managed network capacity checks.