YouTube recommends specific encoder settings for live streaming. Using the correct configuration prevents buffering, quality drops, and stream interruptions.
Recommended Settings
YouTube's own encoder table (Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions, checked 4 November 2026) gives a minimum and a recommended video bitrate for each resolution. These are its H.264 numbers, the codec you stream with when OBS uses x264:
| Resolution | Frame Rate | Minimum (H.264, CBR) | Recommended (H.264, CBR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360p | 30 fps | 400 kbps | 4,000 kbps |
| 480p | 30 fps | 400 kbps | 4,000 kbps |
| 720p | 30 fps | 3,000 kbps | 8,000 kbps |
| 720p | 60 fps | 3,000 kbps | 8,000 kbps |
| 1080p | 30 fps | 5,000 kbps | 14,000 kbps |
| 1080p | 60 fps | 6,000 kbps | 17,000 kbps |
| 1440p | 30 fps | 7,000 kbps | 21,000 kbps |
| 1440p | 60 fps | 8,000 kbps | 34,000 kbps |
| 4K | 30 fps | 11,000 kbps | 42,000 kbps |
| 4K | 60 fps | 14,000 kbps | 50,000 kbps |
With H.265 (HEVC) or AV1 the same page lists lower numbers, for example 4,000 to 12,000 kbps for 1080p60. Pick a value between the minimum and the recommended bitrate that your upload can hold for the whole stream. For audio, YouTube lists 128 kbps for stereo.
CBR vs VBR
Use CBR (Constant Bit Rate). YouTube requires CBR for live streaming. VBR causes quality fluctuations and buffering.
CBR maintains a consistent data rate, which YouTube's ingest servers expect. VBR is fine for recorded uploads but not for live streams.
OBS Settings for YouTube Live
-
Output > Streaming
- Encoder: x264 (CPU) or NVENC (NVIDIA GPU)
- Rate Control: CBR
- Bitrate: See table above
- Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds
- CPU Preset: veryfast (x264) or P5 (NVENC)
-
Video
- Base Resolution: Your monitor resolution
- Output Resolution: Match your stream resolution
- FPS: 30 or 60
-
Audio
- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
- Bitrate: 128 kbps (stereo)
Streaming from a VPS
When streaming from a VPS:
- Use FFmpeg or headless OBS
- Ensure the VPS has enough upload bandwidth
- Use CBR at the recommended bitrate
- Set the RTMP URL to YouTube's ingest server
If you would rather use full OBS than a headless setup, our YouTube streaming VPS comes with OBS pre-installed and runs in the browser.
FAQ
Should I use CBR or VBR for YouTube Live? CBR. YouTube requires constant bit rate for live streaming.
What bitrate for 1080p 60fps YouTube? YouTube lists 6,000 kbps as the minimum and 17,000 kbps as the recommended video bitrate for 1080p60 with H.264, in CBR. Use the highest value in that range your upload can hold.
What encoder should I use? NVENC (NVIDIA GPU) if available. Otherwise x264 (CPU) on veryfast preset.
What is the keyframe interval? Set it to 2 seconds. YouTube recommends 2 seconds and says not to go above 4 seconds.
Related: 24/7 streaming VPS setup, RTMP vs SRT comparison
Sources
All opened on 4 November 2026: