How much upload speed do you need to stream?
Short answer: for a 1080p60 stream at 6000 kbps you need about 8 Mbps of upload. The rule: keep your stream (video plus audio) at no more than 75% of your upload speed.
The formula
OBS's own guidance is to start with a bitrate of about 75% of your upload speed. The rest is room for other traffic at home and for the dips every connection has. So:
upload needed ≈ (video bitrate + audio bitrate) ÷ 0.75
Upload speed by stream quality
| Stream | Video + audio | Upload needed |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3000 + 160 kbps | about 4.2 Mbps |
| 720p60 / 1080p30 | 4500 + 160 kbps | about 6.2 Mbps |
| 1080p60 (Twitch max) | 6000 + 160 kbps | about 8.2 Mbps |
| 1080p60 (Kick max) | 8000 + 160 kbps | about 10.9 Mbps |
| 1440p60 on YouTube | 12000 + 128 kbps | about 16.2 Mbps |
| 4K60 on YouTube | 20000 + 128 kbps | about 26.8 Mbps |
| 4K60 on YouTube, high | 35000 + 128 kbps | about 46.8 Mbps |
Multistreaming multiplies it
If OBS sends a separate stream to each platform, your upload carries every one of them:
| 1080p60 at 6000 kbps to | Upload needed |
|---|---|
| 1 platform | about 8.2 Mbps |
| 2 platforms | about 16.4 Mbps |
| 3 platforms | about 24.6 Mbps |
| 4 platforms | about 32.9 Mbps |
A relay service changes that: OBS sends one stream to the relay and the relay sends it on to every platform, so your upload stays at the one-platform number.
How to measure your upload properly
- Test at the time you stream. Evening upload is often lower than morning upload.
- Use a cable if you can. Wi-Fi speed jumps around, and live streams don't like that.
- Look at the lowest result, not the best. Run the test a few times; your stream has to survive the slow moments.
- Watch OBS. If the status bar shows dropped frames (network), lower the bitrate until they stop.
Common questions
Is 10 Mbps upload enough to stream?
Yes, for a single 1080p60 stream at 6000 kbps, which needs about 8 Mbps. It's not enough to send separate 6000 kbps streams to two platforms from OBS.
How much upload do I need for 4K streaming?
About 27 Mbps at 20000 kbps, and up to about 47 Mbps at YouTube's high end of 35000 kbps. Only YouTube takes 4K among the big platforms.
Does download speed matter for streaming?
Hardly. Streaming sends data out, so upload is what counts.
Why does OBS drop frames when my speed test is fine?
A speed test shows a short burst to a nearby server. A stream needs a steady rate for hours to the platform's server. Lower the bitrate or try a different ingest server.
Source: OBS: stream connection troubleshooting. Bitrates from each platform's guidelines; see the comparison. Checked October 2026.