Game Streaming Bitrate Calculator
Streaming PC games remotely requires the right bitrate balance — too low and the image looks blocky, too high and your connection drops frames. Enter your resolution, FPS and codec to get the recommended bitrate, required upload speed, and a quick check of which software handles it.
What is game streaming bitrate?
When you stream PC games remotely — using Parsec, Moonlight or Steam Remote Play — your gaming PC encodes the screen in real time and sends it over the network. Bitrate is how much data that stream uses per second (measured in Mbps). Too low and the picture looks blocky or blurry; too high and your connection drops frames or disconnects. This game streaming bitrate calculator finds the sweet spot for your resolution and FPS.
How bitrate is calculated
The base bitrate depends on resolution and frame rate — 1080p at 60fps needs roughly 8 Mbps in H.264. The codec multiplier reduces that: H.265 (HEVC) achieves the same quality at ~55% of the H.264 bitrate, and AV1 at ~45%. The quality preset scales the final value up or down: Low uses 65% of the base (prioritises motion over detail), Ultra uses 200% (maximum clarity).
Which codec should I choose?
- H.264 — safest choice. Supported by every GPU (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and every streaming app. Use this if unsure.
- H.265 (HEVC) — cuts bitrate by ~45% at the same quality. Requires a GPU with HEVC encoding support (most GPUs from 2016 onwards). Not supported by Steam Remote Play.
- AV1 — most efficient codec. Only Moonlight and Sunshine support it, and only on NVIDIA RTX 3000+, AMD RX 7000+ or Intel Arc GPUs.
Required upload speed vs bitrate
Your upload speed needs to be about 25% higher than your target bitrate to absorb network overhead and avoid stutters. For 1080p 60fps H.264 at 8 Mbps, plan for at least 10 Mbps stable upload. A consistent 10 Mbps connection is far better than an unstable 50 Mbps one — jitter causes micro-stutters that bitrate alone cannot fix.
Bitrate recommendations by use case
- Playing RPGs or strategy games over WiFi: 1080p 60fps H.265 at Medium — around 4.4 Mbps. Very forgiving on the network.
- Competitive FPS over LAN: 1080p 120fps H.264 at Low — roughly 9 Mbps. Prioritises motion clarity over visual detail.
- 4K couch gaming on home network: 4K 60fps H.265 at High — about 26 Mbps. Requires a gigabit LAN or very fast WiFi 6.
- Playing on mobile data: 720p 60fps H.265 at Low — roughly 1.6 Mbps. Fits within most mobile data plans.
Parsec vs Moonlight vs Steam Remote Play — bitrate limits
Parsec free tier caps at 50 Mbps and supports H.264 and H.265. It is the easiest to set up and works with any GPU on the host. Moonlight with Sunshine supports up to 150 Mbps including AV1, making it the best option for 4K or 144fps streaming — but requires more setup. Steam Remote Play caps at 30 Mbps and only streams Steam games, but needs zero extra software if you already use Steam.
Frequently asked questions
What bitrate do I need for 1080p 60fps remote gaming?
For 1080p at 60fps with H.264, aim for 8–12 Mbps. With H.265 (HEVC) you can get similar quality at 4–6 Mbps. Add 25% headroom for your upload speed — so 10–15 Mbps upload for a smooth stream.
Which codec should I use — H.264, H.265 or AV1?
H.264 is the safest: supported by every tool and every GPU. H.265 cuts bitrate by ~45% for the same quality but requires a GPU encoder that supports it. AV1 is the most efficient but only Moonlight and Sunshine support it, and requires a newer GPU (NVIDIA RTX 3000+ or AMD RX 7000+).
How much upload speed do I need for remote gaming?
Add 25% to your target bitrate for network overhead. For 1080p60 H.264 at 8 Mbps, you need at least 10 Mbps stable upload. Unstable connections cause more lag than low bitrate — consistency matters more than peak speed.
What is the difference between Parsec and Moonlight bitrate limits?
Parsec free tier caps at 50 Mbps. Moonlight (with Sunshine) supports up to 150 Mbps, making it better for 4K or 144fps streaming. Steam Remote Play is limited to around 30 Mbps in settings.