YouTube Video File Checker and Bitrate Calculator
Check a video's format, size, length, shape and bitrate before you upload, and work out the bitrate to use.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
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About the YouTube Video File Checker
Choose a video file and the checker reads its size, file type, length and pixel size on your device, and for MP4 and MOV files the codecs, audio, frame rate and Fast Start. It compares them with YouTube Help: supported formats, the 256 GB and 12-hour limits, the 15-minute limit for unverified accounts, Shorts and aspect ratio, and the recommended bitrate for the resolution. The calculator gives YouTube's recommended bitrate and the file size it makes. The video is never uploaded.
How it works
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Step 1
Choose the video file, drop it on the box, or click "Try an example".
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Step 2
Check the frame rate, then read the checks: anything to fix is listed first.
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Step 3
Open the calculator to pick a bitrate for your export, or to fit a file size limit.
YouTube's upload limits
YouTube Help says the maximum file size is 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. By default you can upload videos up to 15 minutes long; longer videos need a verified account, an intermediate feature you get by verifying your phone number. Audio-only files cannot be uploaded as videos.
Recommended settings
YouTube recommends MP4 with the moov atom at the front (Fast Start) and no edit lists, H.264 video in High Profile, and AAC-LC, Opus or Eclipsa Audio at 48 kHz in stereo or 5.1. Its bitrates are for reference: for example 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24 to 30 fps in SDR and 12 Mbps at 48 to 60 fps. 16:9 is the standard aspect ratio on a computer, and square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes count as Shorts.
What this tool cannot do
It reads the file's details, not its picture: it cannot see black bars, blur or interlacing, and it does not check B frames, GOP or chroma settings. Browsers cannot open every format YouTube accepts, so the length and pixel size of some files cannot be read here. The bitrate check is our measure against YouTube's reference table.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video format for YouTube?
YouTube recommends MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC audio, with the moov atom at the front of the file, often called Fast Start. It also accepts MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, WebM, MPEG and 3GPP files, and ProRes, DNxHR, CineForm and HEVC video. If an upload gives trouble, export as MP4.
What bitrate should I use for a 1080p YouTube video?
YouTube recommends 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24 to 30 frames a second and 12 Mbps at 48 to 60, in SDR; for HDR, 10 and 15 Mbps. Add the audio: 384 kbps for stereo. These are for reference, and YouTube sets no bitrate limit. The calculator works out the file size for your video's length.
How big a video can I upload to YouTube?
Up to 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less. Videos longer than 15 minutes need a verified account: verify your phone number to get intermediate features. The checker reads your file's size and length and shows which limit applies.
Will my vertical video be a Short?
Square or vertical videos up to 3 minutes count as Shorts, for uploads from 15 October 2024. A vertical video longer than 3 minutes is not a Short, and a 16:9 video stays long-form whatever its length. The checker reads the shape and length of your file and tells you which it is.
Should I add black bars to make my video 16:9?
No. YouTube asks you to upload in the native aspect ratio, without letterboxing or pillarboxing bars, and its player changes size to fit the video and the viewer's device. The checker cannot see bars in the picture, so check the video yourself.
Related reading
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