A 24/7 YouTube gaming stream at 1080p60 can use several terabytes of creator upload data each month. Using YouTube's recommended H.264 video bitrate of 17 Mbps, the video alone calculates to about 183.6 GB per day, or 5.51 TB over 30 days.
Those are calculated upload estimates, not measurements of an ISP account. They describe one continuous live feed sent from the creator to YouTube, not a saved VOD watched later by viewers.
What “VOD stream” means here
VOD usually means video on demand: a recording that someone watches after it has been uploaded. A 24/7 gaming VOD stream is slightly different in practice. Many creators use pre-recorded gameplay as the source for a continuous YouTube live broadcast, while others call the resulting recording a VOD after the live event ends.
This article calculates the data used while your encoder is sending that source to YouTube as a live feed. The calculation applies whether the source is a long gaming recording, a playlist of gameplay files, or a looped video. It does not mean that the original file is uploaded continuously as a new file every time it loops.
If you mean watching a saved VOD, these figures do not apply to your upload. Viewer playback depends on the selected or automatically adapted quality, the length of time watched, advertising and other playback conditions. A viewer downloading a VOD is using download data, while the creator's live encoder is using upload data.
The distinction matters when planning a home connection. Sending one 1080p60 feed to YouTube is not the same as sending a separate copy to every viewer. YouTube receives the incoming stream and creates output versions for different devices and connections. Its live-streaming guidance explains the recommended encoder settings and the way live video is prepared for viewers.
For a source that runs from a computer, the network connection must remain available for the whole broadcast. For a cloud-based workflow, the upload may happen from the service rather than from the computer in your room. The data calculation still starts with the bitrate and time online.
The bitrate-times-duration calculation
The basic method is straightforward:
decimal GB = bitrate in Mbps × seconds × 1,000,000 ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000,000,000
For a full 24-hour day, each sustained 1 Mbps represents about 10.8 decimal GB. That gives a useful shortcut:
daily GB = total sustained Mbps × 10.8
30-day GB = total sustained Mbps × 324
Use the total sustained bitrate, not just the resolution. For video-only calculations, that means the video bitrate. For a more complete encoded-stream estimate, add the audio bitrate first.
For example, a sustained 17 Mbps video feed runs at 17,000,000 bits each second. There are 86,400 seconds in 24 hours, and eight bits make one byte. Converting that result into decimal gigabytes gives about 183.6 GB per day.
The figures in this article use decimal units: 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes and 1 TB is 1,000 GB. Operating systems and storage products may also show binary GiB or TiB values, which are numerically lower. Do not mix the two systems when comparing an estimate with an ISP allowance or a monitoring dashboard.
The formula assumes a sustained bitrate for the stated period. If your encoder uses a different bitrate, replace the number in the formula. A 6 Mbps feed, for example, is calculated as 6 × 10.8, or about 64.8 decimal GB per day before audio and other traffic. That is a calculation, not a promise that a particular connection will record exactly that amount.
The 1080p60 H.264 daily estimate
YouTube's recommended H.264 video bitrate for 1080p at 60 frames per second is 17 Mbps, as listed on YouTube's site in September 2026. At that sustained video bitrate, the calculation is:
17 Mbps × 10.8 GB per day for each Mbps = about 183.6 GB per day
So the 1080p60 H.264 video contribution is about 184 GB per 24-hour day, before audio and variable network overhead. Over 30 days, the same video-only estimate is:
17 Mbps × 324 GB for each Mbps over 30 days = about 5,508 GB
That is about 5.51 decimal TB over 30 days. It is the estimated amount represented by the encoded video bitrate, not a measured total from a router or broadband provider.
Codec changes the result. YouTube's table lists 12 Mbps for 1080p60 using AV1 or H.265, as listed on YouTube's site in September 2026. At 12 Mbps, the equivalent video-only estimate is about 129.6 GB per day and 3.89 TB over 30 days. The resolution and frame rate are the same, but the recommended ingestion bitrate differs by codec.
| Format and ingestion codec | Recommended video bitrate | Video per day | Video over 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p60 H.264 | 17 Mbps | about 184 GB | about 5.51 TB |
| 1080p60 AV1 or H.265 | 12 Mbps | about 130 GB | about 3.89 TB |
| 720p60 H.264 | 8 Mbps | about 86.4 GB | about 2.59 TB |
| 1440p60 H.264 | 34 Mbps | about 367 GB | about 11.0 TB |
| 2160p60 H.264 | 50 Mbps | about 540 GB | about 16.2 TB |
The table uses YouTube's listed recommended video bitrates and the same transparent calculation. The 720p60, 1440p60 and 2160p60 values are included to show how quickly the allowance changes when you move away from 1080p60. They remain video-only estimates.
Do not infer data use from a resolution label alone. Check the codec selected by the encoder, the actual bitrate configured, and whether the bitrate remains close to that setting during gameplay. A fast-moving game can also make you more aware of quality trade-offs when reducing bitrate, which is why the setting should be tested with representative movement rather than a static menu.
YouTube recommends testing the encoder before going live and checking the stream's health during the event. The platform also recommends CBR encoding and a two-second keyframe frequency, not exceeding four seconds, as listed on its official help page in September 2026. Those settings help with delivery and compatibility, but they do not change the arithmetic unless they change the sustained bitrate.
If you are deciding whether your connection can carry the feed, compare this topic with the practical considerations in the guide to upload speed for a 24/7 YouTube music stream in India. The content differs, but the need to leave room above the encoded bitrate is the same.
Add audio to the estimate
YouTube's recommended stereo audio bitrate is 128 kbps, as listed on YouTube's site in September 2026. That is 0.128 Mbps. Add it to the video bitrate before applying the formula:
17 Mbps video + 0.128 Mbps audio = 17.128 Mbps total encoded bitrate
The resulting simple estimate is about 185 GB per day and 5.55 TB over 30 days. More precisely, 17.128 × 10.8 is about 184.98 decimal GB per day, and 17.128 × 324 is about 5,549.5 decimal GB over 30 days. Rounding to practical planning figures gives about 185 GB each day and 5.55 TB for a 30-day month.
This is still not a complete bill estimate. It adds the recommended audio stream to the recommended H.264 video stream, but it does not add a universal allowance for packet headers, retransmissions, connection management or other traffic. It is best described as an audio-inclusive encoded-stream calculation.
For 1080p60 AV1 or H.265 at 12 Mbps video, adding the same 128 kbps audio gives 12.128 Mbps. That calculates to about 131 GB per day and 3.93 TB over 30 days. The difference between 3.93 TB and 5.55 TB is mainly the different recommended video bitrate, not a difference in the length of the month.
If your encoder reports an average total bitrate, use that number directly and do not add audio a second time. If it reports video and audio separately, add them. If it reports only a target video bitrate, treat the result as video-only until you account for the audio setting.
The most useful record to keep is the configuration you actually use: resolution, frame rate, codec, video bitrate and audio bitrate. This makes it possible to recalculate the allowance when you change from H.264 to another supported codec or switch to a lower frame rate.
What 30 days of continuous streaming means
A calendar month is not always exactly 30 days, so a 30-day figure is a planning convention. For a precise period, multiply the total bitrate by the number of seconds the feed was genuinely online. The 30-day values above are useful when comparing a streaming plan or data allowance, but they should not be treated as a forecast of a particular billing statement.
At 1 Mbps sustained total bitrate, the shortcut gives about 10.8 GB per day and 324 GB over 30 days. This is a useful reference point for any format. At 17 Mbps video plus 128 kbps audio, the estimate is about 185 GB per day. If the stream runs for only 12 hours, halve the 24-hour result, assuming the bitrate is sustained during those hours.
Interruptions reduce the amount sent while the encoder is offline, but they can introduce other behaviour. A reconnect may resend data, the encoder may restart at a different bitrate, or a playlist may stop while the application attempts recovery. A short outage therefore does not automatically translate into a neat reduction in the account's total.
For a gaming VOD loop, also decide whether you want one long live event or repeated broadcasts. The data calculation for online time is similar, but a restart can affect stream continuity, archive behaviour and monitoring. If your playlist or encoder regularly misses the next file, this guide to making OBS play the next video automatically addresses the content side of the problem.
A 24/7 channel also needs a plan for the periods when nobody is actively watching the computer. Test the exact files, audio levels and loop behaviour before leaving it overnight. The goal is not to make the arithmetic look smaller, but to avoid paying for a continuously running feed that is silent, frozen or repeatedly reconnecting.
Overhead and unrelated traffic
The bitrate calculation represents the encoded payload in a sustained stream. Network traffic normally includes additional information around that payload, and a poor connection may create retransmissions. The amount varies with the transport, connection quality and behaviour of the equipment, so there is no honest universal percentage to add without measuring the setup.
Other traffic can be more significant than the stream's protocol overhead. A gaming channel's computer might upload cloud backups, synchronise a project folder, send a production call, install updates or provide remote access. A separate household device may also be using the same broadband connection. Those activities are not part of the YouTube video estimate, but they can appear on the same ISP account.
The same applies to viewing the stream locally. If you monitor your own public broadcast from another device, that creates playback traffic in addition to the creator's outgoing feed. YouTube's transcoding and delivery to viewers are not added to the creator's one upstream upload calculation. Viewer count does not multiply the creator's upstream feed into one separate upload per viewer.
When a connection has a strict data cap, leave practical room above the calculated encoded bitrate and monitor the actual account. Compare the router's traffic counter with the encoder's bitrate during a representative test, then check whether other devices are using the connection. A short test cannot prove a month's total, but it can reveal that a backup job or an unexpected playback session is sharing the link.
StreamNeo removes the need to keep your own computer sending the file overnight by turning an uploaded video into a continuous YouTube live broadcast, while still requiring you to account for the bitrate and runtime used by the broadcast. It is YouTube-only, so check that this matches your channel before choosing the workflow.
For a local setup, connection recovery is part of data planning. A dropped feed may mean no upload for a period, followed by a restart or a different encoder state. The recovery guide for a dropped YouTube live stream covers the operational response, while YouTube's Live Streams API documentation describes stream status and health information that can help identify delivery problems. Those health fields are diagnostic; they are not a monthly data counter.
Choosing a sensible setting for a gaming VOD loop
Start with the picture you need rather than the largest setting your encoder offers. Fast gameplay may benefit from a higher bitrate, but moving from 1080p60 H.264 to a higher resolution increases the calculated data substantially. A lower setting may be appropriate when the connection or data allowance cannot comfortably support the feed, provided the resulting picture suits the channel.
Then verify the codec and bitrate in the encoder. YouTube's recommendations are not a measurement of what your connection will send. A variable-bitrate configuration, an encoder that cannot sustain its target, or a service that reports a different average will produce a different result. Use the sustained average when you have it.
Next, test the entire loop with its real audio. Include the loudest gameplay, quiet sections, overlays and scene changes. YouTube recommends a speed test for upload capacity, but upload speed and monthly data allowance answer different questions: the first concerns whether the feed can be delivered at a given moment, while the second concerns how much traffic accumulates over time.
Finally, decide where the feed should run. A home computer gives you direct control but also ties the broadcast to that machine, its power, its connection and its updates. A low-cost VPS or local encoder can suit a technically confident operator who wants to manage the process directly. A managed upload workflow can suit someone whose main concern is keeping a pre-recorded channel running without leaving a personal computer switched on.
If you are comparing those approaches, the comparison of cloud streaming and FFmpeg for a 24/7 YouTube channel focuses on the operating trade-offs. Whichever method you use, retain the same discipline: calculate from the actual sustained bitrate, separate creator upload from viewer playback, and check the current YouTube guidance before changing codec or resolution.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Does a 24/7 1080p60 H.264 stream use about 5.5 TB a month?
At YouTube's listed 17 Mbps H.264 recommendation, the video-only calculation is about 5.51 decimal TB over 30 days. Adding the recommended 128 kbps stereo audio produces a simple encoded-stream estimate of about 5.55 TB. These are calculated figures, excluding variable overhead and unrelated traffic.
Does YouTube charge the creator for every viewer's playback data?
No, this calculation concerns the creator's single incoming upload feed. YouTube receives that feed and prepares output versions for viewers, so viewer count does not multiply the creator's upstream upload in this estimate. Viewer playback is a separate download-side activity.
What if I am watching a saved gaming VOD rather than broadcasting it live?
A saved VOD watched later does not create a continuous creator upload feed. The viewer's data use depends on the playback quality, adaptive delivery and viewing time, so use the live-upload calculation here only when an encoder is continuously sending the broadcast to YouTube.
How can I calculate my own monthly figure?
Add your sustained video and audio bitrates in Mbps, then multiply the total by 10.8 for an approximate decimal GB per 24 hours. Multiply that daily result by the number of streaming days, and leave room for overhead, reconnects and other devices using the same connection.