Video Bitrate Converter
Set the bitrate of a video exactly. Enter the video bitrate in kbps – or pick 1, 2.5, 5 or 8 Mbps – choose the audio bitrate and the codec, and the converter re-encodes the video with a bitrate controller that keeps the rate close to your target from start to finish. The expected file size is shown before you start.
- Files stay on your device
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Bitrate
Processing happens on your device with FFmpeg. Keep this tab open; long or high-resolution videos can take several minutes.
How to use Video Bitrate Converter
- Drop a video onto the page.
- Enter the video bitrate and choose the audio bitrate.
- Choose H.264 or H.265.
- Re-encode and download the MP4.
Video Bitrate Converter features
Exact target
Average bitrate with a buffer limit.
Size estimate
Calculated from bitrate and length.
H.264 or H.265
Compatibility or efficiency.
Audio bitrate
64 to 192 kbps AAC.
Real result
Actual average bitrate reported.
Private
Processed on your device; the video is never uploaded.
When to use Video Bitrate Converter
- Preparing videos for streaming servers with bitrate limits.
- Making files fit e-mail or upload limits.
- Creating consistent bitrates across a series.
- Testing quality at different bitrates.
Video Bitrate Converter FAQ
How is this different from the Video Compressor?
The compressor aims for good quality at a small size automatically. This tool encodes at the exact bitrate you specify, which matters for streaming servers and strict delivery specs.
Which bitrate should I use?
The Video Bitrate Calculator recommends one for your resolution, frame rate and content. As a guide: 1080p H.264 needs about 5–8 Mbps for good quality, 720p about 2.5–5 Mbps.
Why is the file size not exactly as estimated?
Encoders vary the bitrate within limits, and containers add a little overhead. The average stays close to the target.
Should I choose H.265?
H.265 needs about a third less bitrate for the same quality, but not every device plays it and encoding takes longer.
Why does the first run take longer?
The media engine, FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (about 32 MB), is downloaded once and then cached by your browser.
Is my video uploaded?
No. FFmpeg runs as WebAssembly in your browser, so the video stays on your device.
Bitrate-controlled encoding
Most encoders are used in quality mode: they spend as many bits as each scene needs, which gives consistent quality but unpredictable file sizes. Streaming servers, broadcast specifications and upload limits often require the opposite – a known bitrate – and that is what this converter does.
It encodes with an average bitrate target and a buffer model, the same approach used for streaming. The maximum rate is limited to one and a half times the target and the buffer to two seconds of data, so the bitrate stays near the target throughout instead of spending most of the budget on a few hard scenes. Width and height are kept, adjusted to even numbers if necessary.
Choosing the bitrate is the important decision. Too low and blocks and smearing appear in motion; too high and the file is larger than necessary. The size estimate helps you plan, and after encoding the actual average bitrate is reported.
H.264 is the safe default for compatibility. H.265 is tagged so that Apple devices recognise it and saves roughly a third of the bitrate at similar quality.
Encoding runs in your browser; your video is not uploaded.