Find out how large your video file will be based on resolution, bitrate, duration, and codec—or what bitrate you need to hit a target file size. Plan your disk space before shooting.
Average video bitrate for the whole file. Leave a little headroom for audio and the container — export about 5% lower.
Switch the calculator to “Bitrate from file size”: enter the target file size and video length, and you'll get the export bitrate. This is handy when there's a hard limit, such as a platform upload limit, flash drive size, or storage plan space. For example, to fit an hour-long film into 20 GB, you need a bitrate of about 45 Mbps.
The file size of a wedding video depends on three main factors: resolution, bitrate, and duration. Understanding these helps you plan storage, choose the right delivery platform, and set client expectations.
Resolution determines the number of pixels in each frame. Higher resolution means more detail — and larger files. Most wedding videographers shoot in 1080p or 4K. Some high-end productions use 6K or 8K for maximum flexibility in post.
Bitrate (measured in Mbps) controls how much data is used per second of video. A higher bitrate means better quality and larger files. Typical values: 15–25 Mbps for 1080p, 50–100 Mbps for 4K, and 150–400 Mbps for 8K.
H.264 is the most widely compatible codec — it works on virtually every device and browser. H.265 (HEVC) produces files roughly 40% smaller at the same quality, but compatibility is more limited. For client delivery, H.264 MP4 is the safest choice.
| Content | Resolution | Duration | Approx. Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlight reel | 4K | 10–15 min | 5–12 GB |
| Ceremony | 1080p | 45–90 min | 5–14 GB |
| Ceremony | 4K | 60 min | 22–45 GB |
| Full day edit | 4K | 2–3 hours | 50–120 GB |
| Speeches / toasts | 1080p | 20–40 min | 2–6 GB |
For 4K, the calculator defaults to 100 Mbps. At this bitrate, a 15-minute highlight is about 11 GB, and an hour of video is about 44 GB. The same hour in H.265 takes up about 26 GB: the codec produces files that are approximately 40% smaller at the same quality.
For 1080p, the default bitrate is 20 Mbps. An hour of H.264 video at this bitrate is about 9 GB, and 15 minutes is just over 2 GB. Change the bitrate to match your export settings, and the calculator will instantly recalculate the file size and upload time.
Once you know your typical file sizes, you can choose a plan that fits your workflow. OurStoria offers plans from 50 GB to 1 TB of storage for videos and photos, with uploads up to 50 GB per file and no compression or transcoding. View pricing to find the right fit.
Want the full breakdown behind these numbers? Read our wedding video file size guide, or our complete guide to delivering wedding video to clients.
Multiply the bitrate in megabits per second by the duration in seconds and divide by 8 to get megabytes. Divide by 1024 to get gigabytes. For example, 100 Mbps × 900 seconds ÷ 8 ÷ 1024 ≈ 11 GB. Audio and the container add a little extra.
At 100 Mbps in H.264, it's about 44 GB; in H.265, it's about 26 GB. With a higher camera bitrate, the source files will be noticeably heavier.
Divide the file size by the duration: bitrate (Mbps) = size (GB) × 1024 × 8 ÷ seconds. To fit a one-hour film into 20 GB, that's 20 × 1024 × 8 ÷ 3600 ≈ 45 Mbps. The calculator's “Bitrate from file size” mode does this for you.
About 40% smaller at the same quality—that's the factor the calculator uses. However, H.264 works on almost any device and in any browser, so H.264 in MP4 is the safer choice for client delivery.