Best bitrate and OBS settings for Twitch (2026)
Short answer: for 1080p at 60 fps, stream to Twitch at 6000 kbps. For 720p60 or 1080p30, use 4500 kbps. Use CBR rate control, a 2 second keyframe interval, and AAC audio at 160 kbps or less.
Twitch's recommended bitrates
These come from Twitch's own broadcasting guidelines. They assume constant bitrate (CBR).
| Resolution | Frame rate | Video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 60 fps | 6000 kbps |
| 1080p | 30 fps | 4500 kbps |
| 720p | 60 fps | 4500 kbps |
| 720p | 30 fps | 3000 kbps |
6000 kbps is the top of Twitch's table for a normal stream. If your upload can't hold 6000 kbps steadily, 720p60 at 4500 kbps usually looks better than 1080p60 starved of bits, especially in fast games.
OBS settings for Twitch
In OBS, open Settings → Output, set Output Mode to Advanced, and on the Streaming tab use:
- Encoder and preset: whatever your PC runs best. A slower preset gives a better picture at the same bitrate, as long as your PC keeps up.
- Rate control: CBR. Twitch is clear that variable bitrate causes problems for viewers.
- Bitrate: 6000 kbps for 1080p60, or the value from the table above.
- Keyframe interval: 2 s. Leaving it at 0 (auto) can cause buffering on Twitch.
On the Audio tab, Twitch asks for AAC at 160 kbps at most. 160 kbps stereo is a good default. In Settings → Video, set the output (scaled) resolution and the frame rate that match the row you picked.
Enhanced Broadcasting and 2K
Enhanced Broadcasting is Twitch's multi-encode mode, available in OBS 30.2 and newer. Instead of one stream, your PC encodes several versions (for example 1080p60, 720p and 480p) and Twitch passes them straight to viewers as quality options. Twitch's setup picks the tracks for your hardware and connection, with a total of about 1.5 to 10.5 Mbps.
Enhanced Broadcasting is also how Twitch does 2K (1440p). It's for Affiliates and Partners, needs OBS 32 or newer, and sends a 1440p HEVC track of up to 9 Mbps next to a 1080p H.264 track. Twitch says you need about 20 Mbps of upload for it, or 9 Mbps if Twitch adds the lower qualities on its side.
Twitch does not offer 4K or AV1 streaming. HEVC is only used for the 2K track inside Enhanced Broadcasting.
Common questions
Can I stream to Twitch at 8000 kbps?
Twitch's guidelines top out at 6000 kbps for a normal 1080p60 stream and don't promise anything above that. Viewers who don't get quality options have to download your full bitrate, so going higher mainly risks buffering for them. If you want more than 6000 kbps, Enhanced Broadcasting is the supported way.
Does Twitch support 4K?
No. The highest is 1440p (2K) through Enhanced Broadcasting, for Affiliates and Partners. A normal stream is up to 1080p at 60 fps.
What keyframe interval should I use for Twitch?
2 seconds. In OBS, set Keyframe Interval to 2 rather than 0 (auto).
What is the best bitrate for 720p on Twitch?
4500 kbps at 60 fps or 3000 kbps at 30 fps, according to Twitch's guidelines.
How much upload speed do I need for 6000 kbps?
About 8 Mbps. A common rule from OBS is to use no more than 75% of your upload for the stream. See our guide to upload speed for streaming.
Sources: Twitch broadcasting guidelines, Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting, Twitch stream quality, Twitch blog: Dual Format and 2K. Checked October 2026.