Compression Ratio For Video Calculator

Work out compression ratio for video instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Compression Ratio For Video Calculator

Compression ratio is the uncompressed bitrate divided by the delivery bitrate, and the data saved is the difference in bitrate integrated over the running time. Modern codecs run at ratios of 100:1 or more, which is why streaming a film that would be terabytes uncompressed is possible at all.

Formulas

Compression ratio

ratio = uncompressed bitrate / compressed bitrate

Data saved

GB = (raw - compressed) Mbps x seconds / 8000

Worked example

With the default values below, Compression Ratio For Video Calculator returns Compression ratio of 20.000. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Uncompressed bitrateminimum 0.01 Mbps: 1,000 Mbps
Delivery bitrateminimum 0.01 Mbps: 50 Mbps
Durationminimum 0.01 min: 10 min

Results

Compression ratio: 20.000 :1
Data saved: 95.000%
Gigabytes saved: 71.250 GB
Delivered file size: 3.7500 GB

Step by step

1Values used
2Compression ratio
3Data saved
4Compression ratio= 20.000 :1
5Data saved= 95.000
6Gigabytes saved= 71.250 GB
7Delivered file size= 3.7500 GB

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Compression Ratio For Video figure worked out?

ratio = uncompressed bitrate / compressed bitrate. Compression ratio is the uncompressed bitrate divided by the delivery bitrate, and the data saved is the difference in bitrate integrated over the running time.

Why does this matter?

Modern codecs run at ratios of 100:1 or more, which is why streaming a film that would be terabytes uncompressed is possible at all.

What do I need to enter?

Enter uncompressed bitrate, delivery bitrate, duration. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.