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Bandwidth for streaming: how much do I need?

You are here:
“How much upload bandwidth do I need to live stream?” is a
common question addressed by our Support department. It’s
also an important question. If you don’t have enough bandwidth
for streaming out, then viewers will be unable to view your
content and your live stream won’t be successful.
So how much streaming upload bandwidth do you actually need to ensure a successful live
broadcast? The answer is… it depends! Understanding factors such as stream
quality, encoding settings, and other conditions are essential to configuring a worry-free and
reliable live broadcast.
This article was originally published on the Epiphan blog on March 30, 2017. The current version has been updated in July 2019.

What is bandwidth? Streaming upload bandwidth

in a nutshell
When streaming out to the Internet, you are consuming upload bandwidth. Examples of
uploading include attaching a file to an e-mail, saving a file to Cloud storage, or publishing a
live stream. As with download bandwidth, upload bandwidth has a set rate (i.e. “5 Mb/s up”)
as dictated by your internet service provider (ISP). Download bandwidth limits are also
generally higher than upload limits (e.g. “15 Mb/s down and 5 Mb/s up”). It is essential to
know your network’s upload speed because this rate enables (and also limits) the quality of
your outgoing streams.

Encode your stream to fit your network

Streamed content needs to be encoded. Video (and to a lesser extent, audio) content that is
not compressed consumes far too much upload bandwidth to support a reliable broadcast
for viewers. Encoding your content is done with a small program, called a codec, using
either software (such as free open-source solution, OBS Studio) or hardware (like “all-in-
one” live production mixer, Pearl-2). The goal of encoding is to digitize and compress your
video and audio content to a bandwidth-friendly file size without sacrificing quality.
A stream’s video and audio data processed over a period of time is called bit rate. Higher
bit rates generally translate into higher quality video and audio. If your stream’s bit rate is
too high relative to your upload bandwidth however, then your live stream will be unreliable
for viewers. For example, a stream with a 6 Mb/s bit rate doesn’t work on a network with a 5
Mb/s upload bandwidth limit.
It’s important to have your selected bit rate roughly match the resolution (i.e. SD, HD, Full
HD, etc) you’ve chosen to publish. If your program’s bit rate doesn’t agree with your frame
size, the quality of the stream is reduced until the configured bit rate value is met—usually
resulting in dropped frames and poorly encoded visuals. Naturally, the required network
bandwidth for 4K streaming will be higher than that for 1080p streaming.
If you have specific resolution in mind for your live stream, you can consult Netflix’s Internet
Speed Recommendations page. While the list below is intended for Netflix viewers (so
viewers can confirm they have the required download speed to watch a stream), you can
nonetheless use the information provided as a ballpark estimate of the bit rates required for
each popular resolution. (Note: these values are simply recommendations—they are not
necessarily industry standard!)

Above are the general required bandwidth for streaming guidelines. For example, the minimum required upload bandwidth for 1080p

streaming is 5 Mbps, while the minimum 4K streaming bandwidth is around 25 Mbps.

Considerations for live streaming success

It’s simple math to realize that if you have 5 Mb/s of upload bandwidth, your stream bitrate
should be less than 5 Mb/s. But just how much less? Bandwidth limit is only part of the
story! You’ll need to consider some additional factors to ensure the success of your live
stream.
1. Always have some extra upload bandwidth available
Ensure you always have enough bandwidth for streaming your broadcast—plus more. This
extra “headroom” acts as a buffer to account for any changes to your network. Upload
bandwidth can be affected by all forms of user activity on your network, such as Internet
uploads, VOiP communication, or gaming.
Use the simple formula below to estimate the required bandwidth for streaming:
We recommend to always have approximately 1.5x your stream’s bit rate available to
account for these possible network fluctuations. For example, if your live stream has a bit
rate of 5 Mb/s, then ensure you have at least 7.5 Mb/s total upload bandwidth available to
ensure a reliable live stream.
You may not need all of the calculated overhead bandwidth for a truly stable network, but
it’s always best to be on the safe side and have too much rather than too little!
Note that our “1.5x rule” applies to most live streaming situations—except for when
streaming out at a relatively low quality (i.e. less than standard definition). Since your total
outgoing bit rate is so low, multiplying by a factor of 1.5 likely won’t provide enough
headroom to protect against any unplanned upload activity on your network. In these cases,
we recommend you allocate some extra bandwidth just to be safe!
2. Consider your network type
There are many different kinds of Internet connectivity, such as DSL, cable, satellite, cellular
data, and more. Each of these options has varying levels of download/upload speed
capability and network reliability that should be considered before attempting a live
broadcast. For example, DSL tends to have lower maximum upload bandwidth which may
limit the bit rate, and therefore quality, of your published stream. Or maybe you live in a
rural area and have a satellite connection? In which case it would be wise to consider
possible obstructive weather conditions before publishing your stream.

3. Consider ISP upload speeds and data caps

Many ISP’s advertise upload and download bandwidth in terms of a maximum speed.
For example an Internet package might be advertised as “Up to 10 Mb/s up and 30 Mb/s
down!”. This particular “up to” phrasing is used because Internet speeds can vary. If using a
cable network, for example, you’re sharing Internet with other cable users within a
geographical area, so your bandwidth may slow during “peak” periods of Internet activity
during the day.
Some ISP also have bandwidth usage maximums—so be aware your live stream doesn’t go
beyond your monthly upload cap or you may be charged additional fees.
Not sure of your upload speed offhand? There are plenty of free Internet speed tests online
you can use, such as the Google Fiber speed test.
4. Ensure you have additional bandwidth if streaming multiple
programs
Multi-streaming is an increasingly popular live streaming strategy that involves publishing
your broadcast to more than one content distribution network (CDN) platform
simultaneously. Multi-encoding, on the other hand, is a similar technique that involves
streaming the same program to the same CDN at different bitrates. Multi-streaming allows
live streams to reach a greater audience while multi-encoding helps to ensure accessibility
of your live to viewers of all levels of download bandwidth.
If using these techniques, it’s essential to consider that each additional program you
publish adds to your total outgoing bit rate and therefore requires additional upload
bandwidth availability.

The final word

As you can see, the required bandwidth for streaming for a reliable live broadcast depends
on a variety of factors. While there is no “one size fits all” configuration, rest assured that
with the right tweaking you can publish a successful and reliable live stream regardless of
your network.
And remember—as a general rule of thumb, we recommend your streaming upload
bandwidth be at least 1.5x the combined bit rate of all your streamed programs (when
streaming in SD or above). Happy streaming!
July 31, 2019
Tags: live streaming

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Author: Jordan Sheldrick
Jordan Sheldrick is a copywriter and digital marketing strategist at Epiphan Video.

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11 Comments

1. Marcel Stojkasays:
January 17, 2018 at 6:42 pm

I had some problems with ping while streaming games recently. So I had to call my internet
provider to fix it. Ive used this this online tool and it gave me best results
(http://www.netmeter.co.uk). I hope it helps you too.

 Reply

o GM Cusiacsays:
June 25, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Thanks for the UK speed test link Marcel! We’ll give it a try – Cheers

 Reply

2. Matthew J Brownsays:
June 25, 2018 at 5:26 am
 I have recently started using the Logitech C920 for live streaming to facebook and youtube. Both
platforms only show SD viewing and playback of the livestream. There’s much discussion about
who’s fault this is but it some feel that the lower uploading bandwidth is the culprit. I only have
1mb upstream. My question is: can I put a 10 minute delay on the livestream? In other words –
allow the “livestream” to load in HD for a period of time before it goes ‘live’ so there’s not a
reduction in viewing quality?? Hope that makes sense.

 Reply

o Jordan Sheldricksays:
July 3, 2018 at 3:45 pm

Unfortunately a delay will not resolve the issue. The same amount of
information is still needed to upload the content. Your bitrate will directly
affect your stream quality and required bandwidth. Typically if you are
looking to stream HD quality (minimum 720) you would need at least
3MB/s of dedicated upload speed to provide you with the appropriate
amount of headroom to support the minimum required 2000 kbps upload
bitrate. The bitrate will need to be adjusted at the device or software level,
depending on your streaming method.

 Reply

3. Fredrik Sjodinsays:
May 18, 2019 at 7:24 am

Hey Jordan,

Thanks for an awesome explanation on how streaming works.

I had no idea really so it was a goldmine for me to find your article.
>> #Question:

Let’s say that I have a connection of 100/100.

Meaning 100mb/s download and 100mb/s upload (in case someone wondering).
Is it possible to stream at a “too high of quality” for my viewers to be able to watch properly?
Or will their device and/or connection automatically adjust to the quality & speed it can handle?
Meaning: Can I broadcast/stream with Full HD quality and viewers with high enough bandwitdh
can watch it in Full HD quality – meanwhile viewers with lower bandwitdh can still watch it, only
with a lesser quality.

Is that correct?

Thx in advance man.

Looking forward to your reply.
  Reply

o Jordan Sheldricksays:
May 21, 2019 at 11:03 am

Heya Fredrik,

Adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming is configured on the content delivery

network (CDN) side of things. Think YouTube, for example.

The CDN detects the bandwidth availability of each connected viewer and
automatically transcodes the broadcast into a new stream with bitrate that
is appropriate for each user’s respective network. In this way, ABR
automatically “course corrects” your broadcast to ensure the viewer is
able to continuously view your content without hitting a buffering wall.

So even if you’re putting out a high-quality stream, viewers of all

bandwidth levels shouldn’t have any difficulties.

 Reply

4. Brain vision productionsays:

August 5, 2019 at 1:20 pm

Great article

 Reply

5. Homersays:
June 22, 2020 at 1:46 am

Hello Jordan

Thank you for the simple way you explain the requirements. I having doing live streams on
Facebook with a Samsung tablet A. I started out using mobile data got spot from a cell phone. I
am not aware of the uploaded speed that they offer but there was not much is sure there apart
from the using up of the monthly location.
We have since installed a fibre network which provides 20down 5up. I am not sure if the 5up is
stable however I have started to try adding youtube to the live stream to capture more audience.
To do this I have tested out retreat io and Larix Broadcaster however I have noted that I have
been having buffering isuures.
I am told that FB requires 4mbs and youtube 6mbs and it is best to only stream to one. And I see
that with 5mbs offered by the network the bandwith will not give the head room.
My interest is setting the bitrates to match the network. In larix the audio bitrate is set at 128kps
and video at 2500kps keyframe 2 with a 1088×1088 resolution.
With these settings what adjustment would you recommend?
  Reply

6. Aaditya Goenkasays:
July 30, 2020 at 11:47 am

Hi, i want to stream my games to 720p on youtube or facebook or sometimes both

so can anyone help me to choose my internet connection plans for flawless streaming
Thanks in Advance

 Reply

7. Kachisays:
July 31, 2020 at 4:53 am

Jordan, please I am also interested in the answer to Homer’s question above.

 Reply

8. Rod Auricsays:
September 10, 2020 at 1:34 pm

Good article explaining concepts and rules of thumb. For one, I am stuck with whatever
bandwidth my ISP provides me at this time. Short of buying a different product with more
bandwidth, the easiest change I can make is in my encoding software. Given a particular upload
bandwidth, how do I configure the parameters in the encoding software to get the best possible
experience for my viewers?

 Reply

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WRITTEN BY
Jordan SheldrickDigital Marketing Strategist
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