Use a wired speed test result if possible. For mobile streaming, use a recent test from the same location.
Headroom keeps bandwidth free for stability, chat apps, alerts, or Wi-Fi swings.
Supported targets use your selected platform, codec, content type, audio bitrate, and headroom setting.
Streaming quality depends on bitrate: the amount of data your encoder sends every second. Too low, and motion looks blocky or blurry. Too high, and your upload route cannot keep up, leading to dropped frames and stuttering video. This OBS bitrate calculator combines platform guidance, selected codec, resolution, frame rate, content type, audio bitrate, and upload headroom.
The basic idea is to leave some headroom so your stream stays stable when your network fluctuates. If your speed test shows 15 Mbps upload, do not spend all 15 Mbps on video. Keeping 20-30 percent free makes room for audio, chat, alerts, browser sources, and normal Wi-Fi swings.
Twitch is commonly treated as a 6,000 kbps H.264 video target with 160 kbps audio. Kick allows up to 8,000 kbps and lists 6,000-8,000 kbps for 1080p60. YouTube Live recommends much higher H.264 settings for high-resolution streams, including 12,000 kbps for 1080p60 and 24,000 kbps for 1440p60.
Add video bitrate and audio bitrate, then divide by the share of your upload you are willing to use. A 6,000 kbps video stream plus 160 kbps audio needs about 7.7 Mbps upload at 20 percent headroom.
Network dropped frames happen when OBS sends more data than your route to the platform can sustain. Lower bitrate first, then reduce FPS or resolution if warnings continue.
Use CBR for live streaming unless your platform says otherwise. CBR keeps ingest predictable and is the normal OBS bitrate setting for Twitch, YouTube Live, Kick, Facebook Live, and TikTok Live.
Audio is small compared with video, but it still counts against upload. Use 160 kbps stereo for Twitch-style settings and 128 kbps stereo when a platform recommends it.
Use a 2 second keyframe interval for live platforms. YouTube says 2 seconds is recommended and not to exceed 4 seconds; Twitch and Facebook guidance also centers on 2 seconds.
If your platform cap or upload speed leaves too few bits per pixel, 720p60 can look cleaner than 1080p60. It is a common move for fast games, sports, and unstable connections.
The result shows the limiting factor as platform cap, upload bandwidth, or selected codec guidance when one of those constraints changes the recommendation.
Last reviewed: June 7, 2026. Platform guidance changes, so treat this as a starting point and confirm unusual workflows in the platform dashboard before an important stream.
This calculator helps streamers choose a bitrate that balances quality with stability. Select a platform, codec, resolution, FPS, content type, measured upload bandwidth, and headroom. The tool returns a kbps-first video bitrate, audio budget, total stream bitrate, upload needed, and practical OBS settings.
Everything runs locally in your browser. The supported quality grid updates immediately so you can see whether your upload speed is better suited to 720p60, 936p60, 1080p60, 1440p60, or 4K.
Run a brief unlisted or private test stream at the suggested value and watch OBS for network dropped frames. If problems appear, lower the bitrate by 500-1,000 kbps or step down resolution before going live.
Use 6,000 kbps video, 160 kbps audio, CBR, and a 2 second keyframe interval for Twitch 1080p60. If the stream drops frames, switch to 936p60 or 720p60 rather than pushing bitrate higher.
YouTube lists 12 Mbps as the H.264 recommendation for 1080p60 live streaming. That is 12,000 kbps video before audio; AV1 or HEVC can use lower codec-specific ranges.
For a 6,000 kbps video stream plus 160 kbps audio, use at least 7.7 Mbps upload with 20 percent headroom. More headroom is useful on Wi-Fi or mobile connections.
Use CBR for most live platforms and OBS streaming. CBR keeps the stream bitrate predictable, which helps platform ingest servers and reduces dropped-frame risk.
720p60 is often better when upload speed or platform bitrate caps are tight. A clean 720p60 stream usually looks better than a blocky 1080p60 stream.
Use 160 kbps stereo audio for Twitch-style streams and 128 kbps stereo audio for platforms that recommend it, such as YouTube and Facebook Live.
Dropped frames usually mean your encoder or upload route cannot sustain the selected bitrate. Lower video bitrate, reduce resolution or FPS, use CBR, and keep a 2 second keyframe interval.
