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How much does a video weigh by quality? File size table

June 29, 20266 min read

Rough guide: one minute of video weighs roughly 25-50 MB in 720p, 50-100 MB in 1080p, and 200-400 MB in 4K. Size depends on resolution, length, frames per second, and compression. Before downloading a long video with PullVid, it's worth getting a sense of how much space it'll take.

What a video's size depends on

  • Resolution: the factor that weighs the most. 4K takes about 4 times more than 1080p.
  • Length: the size grows linearly with the minutes.
  • Frames per second (fps): 60 fps weighs more than 30 fps.
  • Compression/codec: H.265 or VP9 compress better than H.264 at the same quality.

Rough size-per-minute table

  • 720p (HD): ~25-50 MB per minute.
  • 1080p (Full HD): ~50-100 MB per minute.
  • 1440p (2K): ~100-200 MB per minute.
  • 4K (Ultra HD): ~200-400 MB per minute.
  • Example: a 10-minute video in 1080p is around 0.5-1 GB; in 4K, easily 2-4 GB.

How to choose quality based on your space

If you're tight on storage or mobile data, 720p or 1080p give you good quality while taking up little. Save 4K for when you have plenty of room and a screen that makes the most of it. To decide between resolutions, see what resolution to download.

If the video is heavy and the download is slow

A big file takes longer and is more sensitive to connection drops. If your download slows down or gets interrupted, try choosing a lower resolution or review the guide on what to do if the download cuts out or is slow.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 1-hour video in 1080p take up?

Roughly 3-6 GB, depending on the frames per second and compression. In 4K, that same hour can easily exceed 12-20 GB.

How do I reduce the size of a video I'm going to download?

Pick a lower resolution (from 4K to 1080p, or from 1080p to 720p) when downloading. It's the simplest way to cut the weight a lot with no extra software.

Does 4K always take four times more than 1080p?

As a reference, yes: 4K has four times more pixels. The exact size varies with the codec and fps, but the several-times difference is real.

Does the format affect the size?

Yes. At the same resolution, codecs like H.265 or VP9 produce smaller files than H.264. We cover it in the best video formats and quality.

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