4K Video File Size Calculator
Enter your video bitrate in megabits per second for compressed video size estimate.Optional: Uncompressed Video Size Estimate
Typically 8-bit, 10-bit, or 12-bitCreating or working with 4K video files requires understanding file size implications, as these videos contain vast amounts of data compared to lower resolutions. Whether you're a videographer, content creator, editor, or simply curious, mastering how 4K video file size is calculated helps you plan storage, bandwidth, and workflows efficiently.
This detailed blog post (about 2000 words) covers everything from raw data concepts, compression effects, bitrate impacts, and provides tables and formulas to estimate 4K video sizes tailored to your project.
1. What Is 4K Video?
4K refers to a video resolution roughly 4000 pixels wide. Common 4K resolutions include:
| Format Name | Resolution (pixels) | Aspect Ratio | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCI 4K (Cinema 4K) | 4096 x 2160 | ~17:9 | Digital cinema |
| UHD 4K (TV/Consumer) | 3840 x 2160 | 16:9 | TV, streaming, consumer |
4K videos have approximately 4 times the pixel count of Full HD (1920x1080), resulting in significantly larger amounts of data per frame.
2. How to Calculate Raw 4K Video File Size
The uncompressed size of a video file depends on:
- Resolution (pixel width × height)
- Bit Depth (bits per color channel)
- Frames per second (fps)
- Duration in seconds
Raw frame size formula:Frame size (bits)=Width×Height×Bit depth per pixelFrame size (bits)=Width×Height×Bit depth per pixel
- Bit depth per pixel is usually number of color channels × bits per channel.
- For example, 8-bit color depth with three channels (RGB) = 24 bits/pixel.
Total file size:File size (bits)=Frame size (bits)×Frame rate (fps)×Duration (s)File size (bits)=Frame size (bits)×Frame rate (fps)×Duration (s)
Convert bits to bytes by dividing by 8, then to megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
Example: Raw 4K video file size
For a 30-minute video at 4096×2160 pixels, 8-bit color depth, 60 fps:
- Frame size = 4096×2160×24=212,336,6404096×2160×24=212,336,640 bits/frame
- Frames = 60×30×60=108,00060×30×60=108,000
- Total bits = 212,336,640×108,000=2.292×1013212,336,640×108,000=2.292×1013 bits
- Convert to GB:
2.292×10138×1024×1024×1024≈2660 GB8×1024×1024×10242.292×1013≈2660 GB
So a 30-minute uncompressed 4K video at 60fps needs ~2.6 TB of storage.
This raw size is impractically large for everyday use—hence compression is critical.
3. Compressed 4K Video File Size Approximation
Most 4K videos use compression codecs like H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, or VP9, reducing file size dramatically while retaining quality.
Bitrate-based calculation formula:
File size (MB)=Bitrate (Mbps)×Duration (s)8File size (MB)=8Bitrate (Mbps)×Duration (s)
- Mbps = megabits per second (compressed data rate)
- Divide by 8 to convert megabits to megabytes
Common bitrates for 4K:
| Codec | Bitrate Range (Mbps) | Quality Notes |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 (AVC) | 20 – 50 | Good quality, high compatibility |
| H.265 (HEVC) | 15 – 30 | Better compression, smaller sizes |
| VP9 | 15 – 30 | Flexible, web streaming focused |
| ProRes (Apple) | 100 – 300 | Very high quality, large files |
4. Sample Calculations With Typical Bitrates
| Video Length | Bitrate (Mbps) | File Size (GB) Calculation | Approximate File Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 20 | (20 × 60) ÷ 8 = 150 MB | 0.15 GB |
| 10 minutes | 20 | (20 × 600) ÷ 8 = 1500 MB | 1.5 GB |
| 30 minutes | 30 | (30 × 1800) ÷ 8 = 6750 MB | 6.6 GB |
| 60 minutes | 50 | (50 × 3600) ÷ 8 = 22,500 MB | 22 GB |
| 5 minutes | 100 (ProRes) | (100 × 300) ÷ 8 = 3750 MB | 3.7 GB |
| 30 minutes | 100 (ProRes) | (100 × 1800) ÷ 8 = 22,500 MB | 22 GB |
5. Factors Impacting 4K Video File Size Beyond Bitrate
| Factor | Impact Description |
|---|---|
| Bit Depth | Higher bit depth (10-bit, 12-bit) increases file size and color detail |
| Frame Rate | 60 fps doubles data compared to 30 fps |
| Compression Efficiency | Advanced codecs can reduce file size up to 50% for same quality |
| Variable Bitrate (VBR) | Adjusts bitrate based on scene complexity, optimizing storage |
| Audio | Higher audio bitrate and channels (e.g., 5.1 surround) add to file size |
| GOP Length | Group of pictures setting alters compression efficiency |
| Chroma Subsampling | 4:2:0 reduces color data, 4:4:4 preserves it all (larger files) |
6. 4K Video Frame Size Breakdown
From source , the size of one uncompressed 4K 8-bit RGB frame:
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Pixels per frame = 4096 × 2160 | 8,847,360 pixels |
| Bits per pixel = 8 bits/channel × 3 channels | 24 bits per pixel |
| Frame size in bits = pixels × bits per pixel | 8,847,360 × 24 = 212,336,640 bits |
| Frame size in bytes = bits ÷ 8 | 26,542,080 bytes (~25.3 MB) |
This matches the massive size of uncompressed video frames and explains why compression is essential.
7. Common 4K Video File Sizes by Format and Device
| Format | Bitrate (Mbps) | Frame Rate | Length | Estimated Size (GB) | Usage Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube 4K HEVC | ~15 – 30 | 30 fps | 10 min | 1.1 – 2.2 | Streaming with efficient compression |
| Netflix 4K HDR | 15 – 25 | 24 – 60 fps | 60 min | 6.7 – 11 | Streaming premium HDR content |
| Professional ProRes | 100 – 300 | 30 fps | 30 min | 22.5 – 67.5 | Editing / mastering |
| DSLR RAW 4K | 300 – 600 | 30/60 fps | 1 min | 2.25 – 4.5 | Uncompressed / minimal compression |
8. How to Reduce 4K Video File Size?
- Lower bitrate: Reduce Mbps but watch quality loss.
- Use efficient codecs: H.265/HEVC can halve file size vs H.264.
- Decrease frame rate: 30 fps uses half data of 60 fps.
- Reduce video duration: Trim unnecessary footage.
- Use variable bitrate encoding: Saves space on simple scenes.
- Adjust resolution: Consider 1440p if true 4K not necessary.
- Compress audio: Use AAC or Opus at moderate bitrates.
9. Storage Planning for 4K Projects
| Video Length (min) | Bitrate (Mbps) | Estimated Storage Need (GB) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 | 6.6 |
| 60 | 30 | 13.3 |
| 120 | 30 | 26.6 |
| 30 | 100 (ProRes) | 22.5 |
| 60 | 100 | 45 |
Ensure you have 20-30% extra space for temporary files, proxy files, and backups.
10. Summary Table: Calculating 4K Video File Size From Bitrate and Duration
| Parameter | Formula/Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Data size (bits) | Bitrate (bps) × duration (seconds) | bits |
| Data size (bytes) | Data size (bits) ÷ 8 | bytes |
| Data size (MB) | Data size (bytes) ÷ (1024×1024) | megabytes |
| Example (60 Mbps, 10min) | (60,000,000 × 600) ÷ 8 ÷ (1024²) | ~429 MB |
Conclusion
Understanding 4K video file size helps creators optimize storage, bandwidth, and editing workflows. Raw uncompressed files are massive, requiring compression for practical use. Bitrate, codec, frame rate, and duration dictate actual file size. Using tables and formulas here, you can accurately estimate storage needs and tailor settings to your priorities—whether quality, storage, or transmission speed.