How video file size is calculated
Bitrate is how much data each second of video uses, so size grows in a straight line with length. The calculator aims for 95% of a limit, because the file container adds a little overhead.
Example: to fit a 30-second clip under Discord's free 20 MB limit with 128 kbps audio, set the video bitrate to about 5,150 kbps, which is enough for crisp 1080p at 30 fps.
Upload limits
| Where | Limit per file |
|---|---|
| Discord, free | 20 MB (raised from 10 MB in August 2026) |
| Discord Nitro Basic | 50 MB |
| Discord Nitro | 500 MB (some newer Discord pages say up to 1 GB) |
| Email (Gmail, Outlook) | About 25 MB, or 20 MB for some providers |
| X / Twitter | 512 MB, 2 min 20 s on free accounts |
| 16 MB as a video, 2 GB sent as a document | |
| Telegram | 2 GB, 4 GB with Premium |
| iMessage | About 100 MB (much less over SMS/MMS) |
| Slack | 1 GB |
| YouTube | 256 GB or 12 hours |
| YouTube Shorts | Up to 3 minutes |
| Instagram Reels | 4 GB, up to 20 minutes |
| Threads | 1 GB, up to 5 minutes |
| TikTok | About 500 MB from the app, up to 10 minutes for most accounts |
| 4 GB for Reels, 10 GB for feed videos |
Platforms change these limits from time to time, so check the app if an upload is rejected.
Setting the bitrate
In OBS, set the bitrate under Settings › Output › Recording. In HandBrake, pick a preset, then under Video choose Avg Bitrate and enter the number. Most video editors have a bitrate field in their export settings, sometimes in Mbps (divide kbps by 1,000).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Discord file size limit?
Free accounts can upload files up to 20 MB, after Discord doubled the limit from 10 MB in August 2026. Nitro Basic allows 50 MB and Nitro 500 MB.
How long can a Discord video be?
It depends on quality. Under 20 MB, a 1080p clip at 8 Mbps fits about 19 seconds, while 720p at 2.5 Mbps fits about a minute.
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