Is bitrate the same as resolution?

No. Resolution is the number of pixels in each frame, while bitrate is the amount of data used per second to store them. Two videos can share resolution and differ widely in bitrate.

What bitrate does YouTube recommend for 1080p?

For standard dynamic range, YouTube lists 8 Mbps at 24, 25 or 30 fps and 12 Mbps at 48, 50 or 60 fps. It describes these as recommendations, not limits.

How do I convert bitrate into file size?

Multiply the total bitrate in megabits per second by the length in seconds, then divide by 8 to get megabytes. Add audio and video bitrates together first.

What is the difference between kbps and Mbps?

One Mbps is 1,000 kbps. Audio is usually quoted in kbps, such as 128 kbps, and video in Mbps, such as 8 Mbps.

Does a higher bitrate always look better?

Only up to a point. If the encoder already has enough data for the scene, extra bitrate makes the file bigger without a visible gain, and it cannot fix a poor source.

Glossary

What is bitrate?

By the KeyMo team · Updated October 11, 2026

Bitrate is the amount of data used to store or stream each second of video or audio, written in kilobits per second (kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). A higher bitrate lets the encoder keep more detail but makes a bigger file. It is separate from resolution, which is the pixel count.

Bitrate, resolution and file size

Resolution says how many pixels are in a frame. Bitrate says how much data the encoder may spend on them. Starve a 1080p video of bitrate and you get blocky, smeared motion. Give a 720p video plenty and it will still be 720p. That is why a file's quality cannot be read from its resolution alone. See 1080p for the size side.

File size follows from simple arithmetic: bitrate times duration, divided by 8 to turn bits into bytes. A 30-second clip with 8 Mbps video and 128 kbps audio is about 8.128 x 30 / 8 = 30.5 MB. Cut it to 90 seconds and the same settings give about 91 MB. The video file size calculator does this for you.

Numbers from the platforms

Read from each platform's own pages on 11 October 2026. YouTube says no bitrate limit is required and these figures are for reference.
Source	What it says	Kind of number
YouTube, 1080p SDR upload	8 Mbps at 24, 25 or 30 fps; 12 Mbps at 48, 50 or 60 fps	Recommended
YouTube, 720p SDR upload	5 Mbps; 7.5 Mbps at higher frame rates	Recommended
YouTube audio	Mono 128 kbps, stereo 384 kbps	Recommended
LinkedIn video	192 kbps to 30 Mbps accepted	Accepted range
TikTok in-feed ads	516 kbps or more	Minimum, not advice
Instagram API publishing	25 Mbps maximum	Limit

Constant, variable and why it matters

Constant bitrate (CBR) spends the same amount every second. Variable bitrate (VBR) spends more on busy scenes and less on still ones. YouTube's encoding page asks for variable bitrate with H.264. A talking-head clip is mostly still, so it needs less than a sports match at the same size.

Mistakes

Mixing up Mbps and MB/s. One byte is eight bits, so 8 Mbps is only 1 MB per second.
Raising bitrate to rescue a blurry source. Extra data cannot restore detail that was never captured.
Re-exporting the same file several times. Each pass compresses again.

Where KeyMo touches it

KeyMo exports clips at 1080x1920, 30 fps, in H.264 video with AAC audio. This page does not state an export bitrate for KeyMo because none is published here. If a target platform has a file size limit, check the clip with the calculator above.

Sources: YouTube Help: Recommended upload encoding settings (checked 11 October 2026); LinkedIn Help: Video sharing troubleshooting (checked 11 October 2026); TikTok Ads Manager: TikTok Auction In-Feed Ads (checked 11 October 2026); Meta for Developers: IG User Media (checked 11 October 2026).