How do I check the bitrate of a video?
Open it here and read the bitrate in Video, with the sound’s bitrate in Audio. On Windows you can also see Data rate and Total bitrate in the file’s Properties, on the Details tab.
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Check the bitrate of a video
Open a file to see how many megabits per second its picture and sound use, and how that changes from start to finish.
To check a video’s bitrate, open it here and read the Video section: it shows the bitrate of the video stream and a graph of bitrate over time, built from the size of every compressed packet in the file. The Audio section lists the sound’s bitrate separately, and the full report in Report gives the overall figure for the whole file.
The graph is the part a single number can’t give you. It shows where the bitrate climbs on busy scenes and drops on still ones, and how big the spikes are, which is what decides whether a file streams smoothly or stutters on a slow card or network. Because it is measured from the packets without decoding, it works even for codecs your browser can’t play, and the file never leaves your device.
Wondering whether your number is good? The guide to video bitrate explains what bitrate does and lists recommended figures by resolution, with a size calculator.
How to check a video’s bitrate
Open the video
Press Open a file (Ctrl/Cmd+O), drop it on Drop a video or photo here, or press Try the sample video to see an example.
Read the video bitrate
In Video, find the bitrate of the picture stream. The ⓘ next to it explains what the value means and how it is measured.
Follow the graph
The bitrate-over-time graph shows how the rate changes through the clip. Tall spikes are busy moments or key frames; a flat line suggests constant-bitrate encoding.
Check the audio and the total
Move to Audio (press
JorK) for the sound’s bitrate. For the overall bitrate of the whole file, open Report, and press Copy or Download text to keep it.
What the readings mean
| Reading | Where | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Video bitrate | Video | The average data rate of the picture stream: the number to compare with recommendations. |
| Bitrate over time | Video (graph) | How the rate varies through the file, including its peaks. |
| Key frames and GOP length | Video | How often the file stores a complete picture. Key frames cost more bits and show as regular spikes. |
| Audio bitrate | Audio | The sound’s data rate, usually 96–384 kb/s for stereo AAC. |
| Overall bitrate | Report | Every stream plus container overhead: file size ÷ duration. |
Bitrates only compare fairly within the same codec, resolution and frame rate. An HEVC file needs less than an H.264 one for similar quality, so check the codec card in the same section, or the codec checker, before drawing conclusions.
Reading the bitrate graph
- Regular small spikes at even intervals are key frames. Their spacing matches the GOP length shown in Video: phones and cameras often place one every second or two.
- Large irregular peaks are scene cuts, fast pans, flashes or detailed movement such as water and leaves. These are what slow storage or networks struggle with.
- A nearly flat line usually means constant-bitrate encoding, common in live-stream recordings and broadcast captures.
- A sudden lasting drop or rise part-way through can mean two clips joined together or a section re-encoded separately. The video forensics guide covers what such signs can and can’t show.
Other ways to check bitrate
- Windows: right-click the file, choose Properties, then the Details tab. Data rate is the video stream and Total bitrate includes audio. These come from the file’s header and can be blank for MKV.
- VLC: while the video plays, Tools > Media Information (Ctrl+I) has a Statistics tab with a live input bitrate.
- ffprobe: prints the overall and per-stream bitrates, and can list every packet’s size for your own graph. See the ffprobe guide.
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=bit_rate:stream=index,codec_type,bit_rate -of compact file.mp4
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries packet=pts_time,size,flags -of csv=p=0 file.mp4
In the second command, packets flagged K are key frames. For everything else in the file, the video file info report lists every stream and tag.
Checking bitrate: common questions
Why does the bitrate here differ from what Windows shows?
Windows reads a value written in the file’s header, which some apps fill in loosely or leave out. The graph here is built from the sizes of the actual packets, so it reflects what is really in the file.
Why does the bitrate go up and down?
Most video uses variable bitrate: the encoder spends more on complex or fast-moving scenes and less on still ones. Regular small spikes are key frames.
Is my video’s bitrate good?
It depends on resolution, frame rate and codec. The video bitrate guide lists YouTube’s recommended figures, such as 8 Mb/s for 1080p at 30 fps in H.264.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The file is read on your device in the browser, and nothing is sent to a server.