How this calculator works
A video stream spends a certain number of bits on each pixel of each frame. Multiplying the pixel count, the frame rate and a bits-per-pixel figure gives the bitrate in bits per second. Each quality level uses a different figure: efficient streams lean on modern codecs, standard matches most consumer services, and high keeps more detail in fast motion. The estimate is deliberately simple. A real encoder allocates more bits to busy scenes and fewer to static ones, and the published bitrate ladders from streaming services are the practical reference. Data used is the bitrate times the viewing time, divided by eight to convert bits to bytes.
Formula
bitrate (bit/s) = width x height x frames per second x bits per pixel. data per hour (bytes) = bitrate x 3600 / 8. data over the period = data per hour x hours per day x days.
Worked example
1080p at 30 frames per second on the standard quality level: 1920 x 1080 x 30 x 0.09 = 5,598,720 bits per second, about 5.6 Mbit/s. One hour uses 5,598,720 x 3600 / 8 = 2,519,424,000 bytes, about 2.52 GB. Two hours a day for 30 days is 151 GB.
Advertisement
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the estimate?
It is a planning figure, not an encoder output. Modern codecs vary the bitrate with scene complexity and most services cap it per resolution. Treat the result as within roughly 20 to 30 percent of a typical streaming service, and check the provider's published recommendations for a firm cap.
Why does 4K need so much more data?
Bitrate scales with the pixel count. A 4K frame has four times the pixels of a 1080p frame, so at the same bits per pixel it needs four times the bitrate. Better codecs and a higher bits-per-pixel budget per scene reduce the gap in practice.
Does a higher frame rate always cost more?
Yes at a fixed bits per pixel, because there are more frames. The increase is close to linear for sport and games. Film at 24 frames per second looks smooth because of motion blur, and some services encode 30 or 60 frames per second at only a modest increase by spending fewer bits on each frame.
How do I choose between quality levels?
Use efficient when bandwidth or a data cap is the constraint, standard for most viewing on a television, and high for large screens, sport or archiving. The table lets you compare the hourly cost before committing to a plan.