Recording size calculator

Recording Size Calculator

QUICK ANSWER

Estimate how big a screen recording will be before you make it. Enter duration, resolution, frame rate, codec, and quality preset, and see the estimated file size, upload time at common connection speeds, and whether it fits inside Gmail, Slack, Discord, or GitHub attachment limits. Everything runs in your browser; the math never leaves your device.

  • Uses Clipy's actual quality presets
  • Compares H.264, VP9, HEVC, AV1
  • Upload time by connection speed
  • Checks common attachment limits
  • Nothing uploaded
  • No signup
Recording size calculator
Estimated file size
188 MB
10m 0s at 1080p30 · H.264 (most compatible)

Upload time by connection speed

5 Mbps (slow home upload)5m 15s
20 Mbps (typical broadband)1m 19s
100 Mbps (fiber)16s

Common attachment limits

Gmail (25.0 MB, attachment limit)Too large
Slack (1.00 GB, per-file, paid plans)Fits
Discord (25.0 MB, free tier)Too large
GitHub (drag-and-drop) (10.0 MB, issues/PRs)Too large
GitHub (git push) (100 MB, hard limit, LFS above)Too large
Or skip the file entirely: record with Clipy and share an instant link instead of an attachment. Free tier covers 15 recordings or 120 minutes, no watermark, no signup wall.
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How it works

  1. 1

    Set the duration

    Enter hours, minutes, and seconds for the recording you're planning, or the length of one you already have.

  2. 2

    Pick resolution, frame rate, and codec

    Choose 720p through 4K (or a custom height), a frame rate, and a codec. H.264 is the most compatible; VP9, HEVC, and AV1 shrink the file at the cost of encode time or compatibility.

  3. 3

    Pick a quality preset or set a custom bitrate

    The default matches Clipy's own recorder presets at each resolution. Switch to a custom bitrate if you're estimating for a different tool or a specific target file size.

  4. 4

    Read the estimate

    The estimated size, upload time at three connection speeds, and whether the file fits inside Gmail, Slack, Discord, and GitHub's common limits all update instantly as you change inputs.

How is video file size calculated?

File size in bytes is roughly (video bitrate + audio bitrate) / 8 × duration in seconds. Bitrate is set by resolution, frame rate, codec, and quality preset — higher resolution and frame rate need more bits per second to look clean, and a more efficient codec (AV1, HEVC, VP9) needs fewer bits than H.264 for the same visual quality. This calculator applies Clipy's own recorder bitrates by default so the estimate matches a real recording, not a generic guess.

Before you record a long walkthrough

If the estimate looks too large for email or Slack, either drop the resolution/quality preset, switch to a more efficient codec, or skip the file entirely: record with Clipy and share an instant link instead. Before you record, run the recording readiness test to confirm your mic, camera, and screen-share permissions are all working.

Why file size is hard to predict

Video file size is duration times bitrate, and bitrate itself depends on resolution, frame rate, codec, and how much motion is on screen. A static slide deck compresses far better than a fast-scrolling code editor at the same settings, so any calculator (this one included) gives an estimate, not a guarantee. Screen recordings with mostly static UI and occasional motion usually land close to or under the estimate; recordings with constant motion (video playback, games, fast scrolling) can run higher. The codec matters as much as the resolution. VP9, HEVC, and AV1 all target roughly the same visual quality as H.264 at a lower bitrate, which is why this calculator applies an efficiency multiplier per codec instead of just scaling by resolution.

Why this uses Clipy's own presets

The default bitrates match Clipy's recorder quality tiers exactly (500 kbps at 480p up to 8,000 kbps at 4K), so the estimate reflects what an actual Clipy recording at that resolution would produce, not a generic guess. If you're sizing a recording from a different tool, switch to the custom bitrate option and enter its target bitrate instead.

Common questions

How big is a 10-minute screen recording?

At Clipy's default 1080p preset (2,500 kbps video + 128 kbps audio), a 10-minute recording is roughly 197 MB. Drop to 720p and it's closer to 70 MB. Use the calculator above with your exact settings for a precise number.

Why does my actual file come out bigger or smaller than the estimate?

Bitrate calculators assume a roughly constant bitrate. Real encoders (including browser-based MediaRecorder) vary bitrate with scene complexity — a mostly static screen with a moving cursor compresses far better than full-motion video, so real recordings of typical screen-recording content often come in under the estimate, while recordings full of video playback or animation can run over it.

Which codec makes the smallest file?

AV1 is the most efficient of the four listed here (roughly half the bitrate of H.264 for similar quality), followed by HEVC, then VP9. The tradeoff is compatibility and encode speed: H.264 plays everywhere including old devices and every editor; AV1 has the narrowest hardware support and the slowest encode time.

How long will my recording take to upload?

Upload time is file size divided by your actual upload bandwidth, which is usually much lower than your plan's advertised download speed. The calculator shows estimates at 5, 20, and 100 Mbps upload; check your real upload speed with a speed test if you need an accurate number.

What's the file size limit for Slack, Gmail, Discord, and GitHub?

Gmail attachments cap at 25 MB. Slack's per-file limit depends on the plan (paid plans commonly allow up to 1 GB). Discord's free tier caps uploads at 25 MB per file (Nitro raises this). GitHub allows roughly 10 MB via drag-and-drop into an issue or PR, and hard-caps individual files pushed through git at 100 MB (Git LFS is required above that). These limits change over time and by plan, so treat them as a rough guide.

Is there a way to avoid the file-size problem entirely?

Yes: record with Clipy and share a link instead of a file. The recording streams to Clipy's server as you record, so there's nothing to compress, attach, or wait on a slow upload for after the fact — the viewer clicks a link and streams it.

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