The Best Export Settings for YouTube in 2025 (Bitrate, Resolution, Format)

Want your videos to look sharp and professional after uploading to YouTube? This post breaks down the ideal export settings — by resolution, bitrate, and software — so your work doesn’t get crushed by compression.

YouTube is a powerful platform — but its compression algorithm? Brutal. Creators often spend hours perfecting color, pacing, and resolution, only to upload a video that comes out soft, muddy, or worse… glitchy.

The fix? Start with the right export settings. This guide explains the best YouTube export settings for 2025, based on the latest platform recommendations and real-world results.

1. YouTube’s Recommended Video Specs in 2025

Here’s what YouTube officially recommends for HD and 4K uploads:

✅ Resolution & Frame Rate

• 1080p (Full HD) — 1920x1080 at 30fps or 60fps

• 4K (UHD) — 3840x2160 at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps

• YouTube accepts all common frame rates, but consistency is key.

✅ Bitrate Targets (for Upload, not Playback)

Resolution	Recommended Bitrate (Standard)	Recommended Bitrate (HDR)
1080p @ 30fps	8 Mbps	10 Mbps
1080p @ 60fps	12 Mbps	15 Mbps
4K @ 30fps	35–45 Mbps	44–56 Mbps
4K @ 60fps	53–68 Mbps	66–85 Mbps

⚠️ Important: Always upload at a higher bitrate than YouTube will stream, to preserve detail through compression.

If you've ever noticed your beautifully graded footage looks dull or washed out on YouTube, you're not alone. We break down the gamma shift issue and how to fix it in this guide.

📩 Free Download: Testament 2.4-.2.2 Conversion LUT

2. Export Format: What Container and Codec to Use

✅ Container: .mp4

• Compatible across all systems

• Keeps file sizes manageable

• YouTube prefers .mp4 over .mov for most uploads

✅ Video Codec: H.264 (AVC) or H.265 (HEVC)

• H.264 is most widely accepted

• H.265 is more efficient (smaller file, same quality) — but upload times may vary, and compatibility can be tricky

🎯 If unsure, go with H.264.

3. Export Settings for YouTube (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro)

🎬 Adobe Premiere Pro (2025 Preset):

• Format: H.264

• Preset: Match Source – High Bitrate (then customize)

• Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2 pass

• Target Bitrate: 10–12 Mbps (1080p), 40–50 Mbps (4K)

• Max Bitrate: 15–16 Mbps (1080p), 60 Mbps (4K)

🎞️ DaVinci Resolve:

• Format: MP4

• Codec: H.264

• Quality: Restrict to 10000–12000 kbps (HD), 45000 kbps (4K)

• Key Frames: Automatic or every 1–2 seconds

• Data Levels: Auto or Full (if you understand the impact)

🎥 Final Cut Pro:

• Export with Compressor or as Master File (H.264)

• Use Compressor for bitrate control

• Avoid “Faster Encode” – it reduces quality

4. Color Space, Audio, and Other Settings

• Color Space: Rec.709 for SDR uploads. Only use Rec.2100 for true HDR content.

• Audio Codec: AAC, 48kHz, 320 kbps (stereo)

• Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square (1.0)

⚠️ Don’t export in a custom color space like Rec.709-A unless you know how YouTube interprets it — it may wash out your blacks or shift gamma.

5. Best Practices to Avoid YouTube Compression Artifacts

• Upload in 4K even if your footage is 1080p — YouTube uses a better codec (VP9) for higher resolutions.

• Don’t upload interlaced footage — aka make sure the "p" in 1080p is not an "i" instead.

• Use 2-pass encoding if your software allows — it optimizes file quality-to-size ratio.

  
  

💡 Pro tip: Upload your video, set it to unlisted, and review how it looks post-processing before making it public.

6. Sample Export Preset (1080p @ 30fps)

Here’s a quick-reference preset:

• Format: H.264

• Resolution: 1920x1080

• Frame Rate: 29.97 fps

• Bitrate: VBR, 2 pass | Target: 12 Mbps | Max: 15 Mbps

• Audio: AAC, 320 kbps, 48kHz

You can copy these settings into any NLE and save them as a YouTube preset.

Conclusion: Let YouTube Compress Less by Giving It More

You don’t need to change your workflow — you just need to end it better. By exporting your videos with the correct bitrate, format, and color profile, you give YouTube less to interpret — and more to preserve.

Should you end up with an upload that looks flat, washed out, etc. have no fear! Download our LUT and place it over your video before exporting.

📩 Free Download: Testament 2.4-.2.2 Conversion LUT

👉 Contact Testament Productions for pro-level exports.

About the Author

I'm Mark Ledbetter, a professional editor/colorist and post-production expert based in Los Angeles. I cover editing workflows, cinema gear and how indie filmmakers can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Find out About Testament Productions.