What are the ideal video sizes for YouTube?

[danisjohn]

I’m uploading a video to YouTube and want the best quality. What’s the recommended size or resolution?

 

[AngelinaFi]

For YouTube, the sweet spot is 1080p (1920×1080). That’s what most creators use because it uploads fast and still looks sharp on every device. If you want even better quality and future-proofing, go 4K (3840×2160). YouTube’s compression is aggressive, so higher resolution = cleaner final output.

 

[Emmawoods]

Bro, always upload the highest resolution you have. Even if people watch in 1080p, the video will still look better because YouTube gives more bitrate to higher-res uploads. I upload 4K even when I shoot in 1080p… don’t judge me but it works.

 

[Lisa]

Honestly, people overthink it. For MOST channels:
1080p → perfectly fine
1440p → looks sharper + YouTube gives higher bitrate
4K → only if you have good lighting + strong PC because export times are crazy
If your PC sounds like a jet engine during export, stick to 1080p

 

[megamind]

Someone above said “upload in the highest resolution” but that’s not always true. If your original footage is low quality or shot on a budget phone, upscaling to 4K is pointless. YouTube isn’t magic it won’t make blurry footage sharp. Just upload whatever matches your real recording resolution.

 

[jimmy]

I run a small tech channel, and here’s what I follow:

• 16:9 aspect ratio (most common)
• 1080p minimum
• 4K when I’m proud of the video
  If you’re doing Shorts, they’re 1080×1920 vertical, but that’s a different story. For normal videos, go full HD or above. Quality matters more than people admit.