YouTube resolution: every size, and what 1440p and 2K mean
Every resolution YouTube lists with its pixel size and recommended upload bitrate, what 1440p is, why 2K usually means 1440p on YouTube, and how to pick a size.
- 01YouTube Help lists eight 16:9 resolutions, from 240p (426 × 240) up to 4320p, or 8K (7680 × 4320). 1440p is 2560 × 1440 pixels, and YouTube writes it as "1440p (2K)".
- 022K has no single definition. Digital cinema sets it at 2048 × 1080, and consumer products use it for 2560 × 1440. On YouTube, 2K video resolution means 1440p, so read the pixel numbers before you trust the label.
- 03YouTube's recommended SDR upload bitrate at standard frame rates is 8 Mbps for 1080p, 16 Mbps for 1440p and 35 to 45 Mbps for 4K. The pixel counts and file-data sums on this page are our arithmetic.
YouTube resolution comes down to a short list. YouTube Help names eight standard sizes, from 240p at 426 × 240 pixels to 4320p, also called 8K, at 7680 × 4320. All eight are 16:9. The one people search for most in the middle of that list is 1440p, which is 2560 × 1440 pixels, and YouTube's own help pages label it "1440p (2K)".
This page covers the YouTube side of resolution: the sizes YouTube names, the upload bitrate it recommends for each, what 1440p and 2K mean for an upload, and how to pick one. If you searched 1440p for a monitor or a game setting, that is a different decision, and this page does not cover it.
The sizes and bitrates come from two YouTube Help pages checked on 15 October 2026. Pixel counts, ratios and data sums are our arithmetic and are marked as such.
Every YouTube resolution and its bitrate
YouTube Help's resolution page lists these eight sizes for 16:9 video. The last two columns are our arithmetic: the pixel count is width times height, and the final column divides it by the 2,073,600 pixels in 1080p.
| Resolution | Pixels | Pixel count | Times 1080p |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4320p (8K) | 7680 × 4320 | 33,177,600 | 16 |
| 2160p (4K) | 3840 × 2160 | 8,294,400 | 4 |
| 1440p (2K) | 2560 × 1440 | 3,686,400 | 1.78 |
| 1080p (HD) | 1920 × 1080 | 2,073,600 | 1 |
| 720p (HD) | 1280 × 720 | 921,600 | 0.44 |
| 480p (SD) | 854 × 480 | 409,920 | 0.20 |
| 360p (SD) | 640 × 360 | 230,400 | 0.11 |
| 240p (SD) | 426 × 240 | 102,240 | 0.05 |
YouTube Help's recommended upload encoding page gives a video bitrate for each size from 360p up, in megabits per second. It splits them by dynamic range and by frame rate. Standard frame rates are 24, 25 and 30 frames per second. High frame rates are 48, 50 and 60. The page gives no bitrate for 240p.
| Resolution | SDR, standard rate | SDR, high rate | HDR, standard rate | HDR, high rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4320p (8K) | 80 to 160 | 120 to 240 | 100 to 200 | 150 to 300 |
| 2160p (4K) | 35 to 45 | 53 to 68 | 44 to 56 | 66 to 85 |
| 1440p (2K) | 16 | 24 | 20 | 30 |
| 1080p | 8 | 12 | 10 | 15 |
| 720p | 5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 9.5 |
| 480p | 2.5 | 4 | Not supported | Not supported |
| 360p | 1 | 1.5 | Not supported | Not supported |
These are video bitrates only. YouTube Help lists audio on its own: 128 kbps for mono, 384 kbps for stereo and 512 kbps for 5.1 surround. It also notes that support for playback of resolutions between 4K and 8K began to be removed in 2022.
The Video Bitrate Calculator looks up the row for your resolution and frame rate, SDR or HDR, and compares it with the bitrate you plan to export.
What 1440p means on YouTube
The 1440 in 1440p is the height in pixels, and the p stands for progressive scan. At 16:9 the width is 2560, which gives 2560 × 1440, also known as QHD. YouTube Help writes it as "1440p (2K)" in both its resolution list and its bitrate tables.
Against the neighbours, 1440p has four times the pixels of 720p. It is a third taller than 1080p, but the width grows too, so it holds 1.78 times the pixels, about 78% more (our arithmetic). Against 4K it holds 44% of the pixels, because 3,686,400 divided by 8,294,400 is 0.44.
The bitrate jump is steeper than the pixel jump. YouTube recommends 16 Mbps for SDR at standard frame rates in 1440p and 24 Mbps at high frame rates. Those are double the 8 and 12 Mbps for 1080p. The pixels rise by 78% and the recommended bitrate by 100% (our division).
Wikipedia lists wider 1440p variants for ultrawide monitors, including 3440 × 1440 and 5120 × 1440. YouTube's list has no such row. Help says the player adjusts to the size of each video.
What 2K video resolution means
Wikipedia's article on 2K resolution calls it a loose term for content or displays with about 2,000 horizontal pixels. Several sizes carry the name, and which one you mean depends on who is talking.
| Meaning of 2K | Pixels | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| DCI 2K | 2048 × 1080 | Digital cinema, set by Digital Cinema Initiatives |
| SMPTE 428-1 flat crop | 1998 × 1080 | Cinema distribution at 1.85:1 |
| SMPTE 428-1 CinemaScope crop | 2048 × 858 | Cinema distribution at about 2.39:1 |
| Consumer 2K, QHD, 1440p | 2560 × 1440 | Consumer products and YouTube's "1440p (2K)" label |
| Full HD called 2K | 1920 × 1080 | NHK STRL and the ITU Radiocommunication Sector, per Wikipedia |
Wikipedia adds that 2560 × 1440 is sometimes called 2K in consumer products but is traditionally categorised as 2.5K. On YouTube the label is settled, because the help pages pair "2K" with 1440p and give it as 2560 × 1440. Our reading is that 2K video resolution on YouTube means 1440p.
A cinema 2K file at 2048 × 1080 is a different shape. YouTube Help's resolution list has no 2048 × 1080 row. If a client or a spec asks for 2K, ask for the width and height in pixels, then export to the nearest size in the table above.
The other upload settings YouTube lists
Resolution and bitrate are two of several settings on YouTube Help's encoding page. The page also lists the container, codecs, colour space and frame rate.
| Setting | YouTube Help recommendation |
|---|---|
| Container | MP4, with no edit lists and the moov atom at the front of the file (Fast Start) |
| Video codec | H.264, High Profile, progressive scan, 2 consecutive B frames, closed GOP of half the frame rate, CABAC, variable bitrate, 4:2:0 chroma subsampling |
| Audio codec | AAC-LC, Opus or Eclipsa Audio, with a 48 kHz sample rate |
| SDR colour space | BT.709 for colour space, transfer characteristics, primaries and matrix |
| Frame rate | Encode and upload at the frame rate the content was recorded at. Common rates are 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 |
| Interlaced footage | Deinterlace before upload, for example 1080i60 to 1080p30 |
Aspect ratio and vertical video
All eight sizes are 16:9, which YouTube Help gives as the standard on a computer. Vertical and square videos are accepted, and the player adapts to each video's size. On computer browsers YouTube may pad some ratios, such as 9:16, with white, or dark gray in Dark theme. Help advises against adding black bars or padding yourself, because that interferes with the player resizing.
YouTube's resolution page gives only 16:9 sizes. For a vertical frame you can swap the width and height, so 1080 × 1920 is the vertical counterpart of 1920 × 1080. That swap is our arithmetic and not a YouTube table. The Aspect Ratio Calculator returns the matching width or height for 9:16, 4:3, 1:1 and other shapes.
For Shorts, YouTube's guide says you can upload at a maximum resolution of 1080p. Our guide to how long YouTube Shorts can be covers the length, format and music rules.
Which resolution to upload
YouTube Help does not say which resolution a creator should pick. It gives sizes and bitrates and leaves the choice to you. These points follow from the figures above and are our advice.
- Upload at the resolution you recorded or higher. Scaling a 1080p recording up to 1440p adds pixels and no detail, and it doubles the recommended bitrate.
- Pick a row from the table. A file that matches a listed size and sits near its recommended bitrate is the safest target.
- Keep the frame rate you recorded. Help says to encode and upload at the same rate, so do not convert 24 or 30 to 60 on export.
- Count the cost. A higher row means a larger file and a longer upload, as the next table shows.
The table multiplies the recommended SDR bitrate at standard frame rates by 600 seconds and divides by 8 to get megabytes. It counts the video stream only, in decimal megabytes, so it is our arithmetic and leaves out audio.
| Resolution | SDR bitrate, Mbps | Video data in 10 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 720p | 5 | 375 MB |
| 1080p | 8 | 600 MB |
| 1440p | 16 | 1,200 MB |
| 2160p (4K) | 35 to 45 | 2,625 to 3,375 MB |
Checking a file before you upload
- Read the width, height and frame rate from your editor's export panel or a media inspector.
- Find that size in the bitrate table, in the right frame-rate band and for SDR or HDR.
- Set the export's video bitrate near that figure. YouTube Help gives a single number for most rows and a range for 4K and 8K.
- Multiply the bitrate by the length in seconds and divide by 8 to get megabytes of video.
- Add the audio. Stereo at 384 kbps is 0.384 × seconds ÷ 8 megabytes, so 10 minutes adds about 29 MB.
The Video Size Calculator does steps four and five from your length, resolution and bitrate, and checks the result against YouTube's upload limits.
Questions people ask
What resolutions does YouTube list?
Eight 16:9 sizes: 4320p (7680 × 4320), 2160p (3840 × 2160), 1440p (2560 × 1440), 1080p (1920 × 1080), 720p (1280 × 720), 480p (854 × 480), 360p (640 × 360) and 240p (426 × 240).
What is the highest YouTube resolution?
4320p, also called 8K, at 7680 × 4320 is the highest size on YouTube Help's resolution list. The page notes that support for playback between 4K and 8K began to be removed in 2022.
What is 1440p on YouTube?
2560 × 1440 pixels. YouTube Help labels it "1440p (2K)". It holds 3,686,400 pixels, which is 1.78 times the pixels in 1080p (our arithmetic).
Is 2K the same as 1440p?
On YouTube, yes. The help pages pair the two names. Elsewhere 2K can mean DCI 2K at 2048 × 1080, or even 1920 × 1080, so check the pixel size when a spec only says 2K.
What is the pixel size of 2K video?
It depends on the standard. DCI 2K is 2048 × 1080, and the consumer and YouTube meaning is 2560 × 1440. Wikipedia also records 1998 × 1080 and 2048 × 858 as SMPTE 2K cinema formats.
What bitrate should I use for 1440p?
YouTube Help recommends 16 Mbps for SDR at 24, 25 or 30 fps and 24 Mbps at 48, 50 or 60 fps. For HDR the figures are 20 and 30 Mbps. Audio is extra, at 384 kbps for stereo.
What bitrate should I use for 1080p?
YouTube Help recommends 8 Mbps for SDR at standard frame rates and 12 Mbps at high frame rates. For HDR it gives 10 and 15 Mbps.
Is 1440p better than 1080p?
It has 1.78 times the pixels, so it can show more detail, but only if the source has that detail. Footage recorded at 1080p and scaled up gains pixels and no detail (our reading).
What aspect ratio does YouTube use?
16:9 is the standard on a computer. Vertical and square videos are accepted, and the player adapts to each video's size.
What resolution should I use for YouTube Shorts?
YouTube's Shorts guide says Shorts can be uploaded at a maximum resolution of 1080p. Shorts need to be square or vertical.
Does YouTube give a bitrate for 240p?
No. YouTube Help's encoding page lists bitrates from 360p up. It lists 480p and 360p for SDR only and marks HDR as not supported for both.
Sources
- YouTube Help. Video resolution & aspect ratios. support.google.com· Checked 15 October 2026.
- YouTube Help. YouTube recommended upload encoding settings. support.google.com· Checked 15 October 2026.
- YouTube Help. Get started creating YouTube Shorts. support.google.com· Checked 15 October 2026.
- Wikipedia. 2K resolution. en.wikipedia.org· Checked 15 October 2026.
- Wikipedia. 1440p. en.wikipedia.org· Checked 15 October 2026.
Written by Faisal Ashfaq. Faisal Ashfaq maintains the YouTubeScribe caption extractor at Deeporax AI LTD in Oldham. He writes the under-the-hood notes on timed text.
Reviewed on 15 October 2026. If a line is wrong, email support@youtubescribe.com.