Vimeo Video Bitrate Calculator
Deliver reference-grade visuals for clients and portfolios. Calculate recommended bitrates for 4K UHD, 1440p, and 1080p Vimeo exports with two-pass VBR and uncompressed audio.
Last Updated: November 4, 2026
Official Vimeo Video Upload Guidelines
Audited directly against Vimeo Video & Audio Compression Guidelines. Last verified: November 4, 2026.
| Tier / Resolution | Framerate | Standard Bitrate | High Bitrate (Motion / Master) | Recommended Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K UHD (2160p) | 24 / 30 / 60 fps | 30,000 – 45,000 kbps | 60,000 kbps (or ProRes 422) | 320 kbps AAC / 24-bit PCM |
| 1440p 2K (QHD) | 24 / 30 / 60 fps | 16,000 – 24,000 kbps | 30,000 kbps | 320 kbps AAC |
| 1080p Full HD | 24 / 30 / 60 fps | 10,000 – 15,000 kbps | 20,000 kbps | 320 kbps AAC |
Frequently Asked Questions: Vimeo Encoding
What bitrate should I use for 4K video uploads to Vimeo?
For 4K UHD (3840x2160) at 24, 30, or 60 fps on Vimeo, upload between 30,000 and 60,000 kbps (30 to 60 Mbps) using H.264 or HEVC, or export Apple ProRes 422 masters for cinema-grade playback.
Why does Vimeo maintain higher video quality than YouTube?
Vimeo is engineered for filmmakers and creative agencies. Unlike social platforms that aggressively compress video to minimize CDN bandwidth costs, Vimeo allocates significantly higher bitrates across its playback transcoding ladder and supports multi-pass VBR without harsh downsampling.
Does Vimeo support Apple ProRes uploads?
Yes. Vimeo officially accepts Apple ProRes 422 (HQ, Standard, and LT) uploads. ProRes files are substantially larger than H.264/HEVC, but they provide pristine master quality with zero generation loss.
What audio bitrate does Vimeo recommend?
Vimeo recommends 320 kbps stereo AAC at 48 kHz or uncompressed 24-bit PCM / WAV audio for portfolio and commercial video projects.