How to Use the Screen Recording File Size Calculator
Select your recording length, resolution and frame rate combination, and quality setting to estimate the file size for tools like OBS or Camtasia before you start recording. Useful for making sure you have enough storage space.
Typical Bitrates by Resolution and Frame Rate
1080p at 30fps typically uses around 8Mbps, 1080p at 60fps about 12Mbps, 1440p 16-24Mbps, and 4K 35-50Mbps. Higher bitrates produce better quality but proportionally larger file sizes.
When You're Low on Storage
Dropping resolution or frame rate by one tier cuts file size significantly — recording at 1080p 30fps instead of 4K 60fps can reduce the file to roughly a sixth of the size. Re-encoding with a separate compression tool afterward is also effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
At the same resolution, 60fps stores about 1.5x more frame data than 30fps, resulting in a larger file. Unless you're capturing games or fast motion, 30fps is smooth enough for most recordings.
Lowering resolution and frame rate is the most effective approach. Recording at 1080p instead of 4K, or 30fps instead of 60fps, can cut file size by more than half. Re-encoding with a compression tool afterward also helps.