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Best OBS Settings Calculator

#Free tool

Find the best OBS settings for your connection

Tell us your platform, your upload speed and your computer, and get the bitrate, resolution and encoder settings to type into OBS. No sign-up.

Run a speed test on the computer you stream from, ideally with a cable, and use the upload number.

Want a stream that looks as good as it runs? Get the free OBS widgets

Platforms update their guidelines from time to time. These values are conservative and work well in practice; if you stream at the highest quality, double-check your platform.

#How to apply it

Enter it in OBS in a few minutes

  1. Open Settings > Video. Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to your screen and Output (Scaled) Resolution to the value in the table. Choose the downscale filter and FPS shown.
  2. Open Settings > Output and change Output Mode to Advanced. On the Streaming tab pick the encoder and fill in the values from the table.
  3. Open the Audio tab in Output and set the audio bitrate. Then set the sample rate in Settings > Audio.
  4. Click Apply and start a test stream, or record a short clip. If you see dropped frames in the OBS status bar, lower the bitrate a little.

Make your stream look the part

Add a countdown, a live chat box and a schedule in your own colors with the free OBS widgets.

Open the OBS widgets
#FAQ

OBS settings questions

What is the best bitrate for streaming on Twitch?

For most channels, around 6000 kbps at 1080p 60 fps or 4500 kbps at 1080p 30 fps. Twitch recommends staying near 6000 kbps, and the calculator lowers the number automatically if your upload speed cannot sustain it.

How much of my upload speed should I use?

Use no more than about 70% of your upload speed for the stream. The rest is headroom for other traffic and speed fluctuations, which prevents dropped frames and buffering for your viewers.

Which encoder should I choose in OBS?

If you have a recent NVIDIA, AMD or Intel graphics chip, or a modern Mac, use the hardware encoder: it has almost no impact on your game. Use x264 (CPU) only if you have no hardware encoder or a strong CPU to spare.

Why CBR and a 2 second keyframe interval?

Twitch and most platforms expect a constant bitrate (CBR) and a keyframe every 2 seconds. Other values can cause errors or quality problems.

How do I find my upload speed?

Run a speed test on the same computer, ideally wired with an Ethernet cable, and use the "upload" number in Mbps. Test a few times and use the lower result.

Are these numbers official?

They follow the recommendations platforms publish and what works well in practice, but platforms change their guidelines, so always check your platform if you stream at the highest quality.