How video compression works — and which settings to choose
A video’s file size is mostly decided by its bitrate (how many bits are used per second) multiplied by its duration. To hit a target size, the compressor divides the size you want by the length of the video and encodes at that bitrate. That is why a 30-second clip fits into 8 MB easily while a 10-minute video needs a much lower resolution to fit.
Each resolution needs a minimum bitrate to look good. With Automatic resolution the tool keeps your original resolution when the target allows it and steps down to 1080p, 720p or 480p only when the budget is too small — a sharp 720p video looks far better than a blocky 1080p one.
H.264 (MP4) plays on every phone, computer, TV and social network. HEVC (H.265) and AV1 produce roughly 40–50% smaller files at the same quality, but older devices may not play them. Everything is encoded by your browser, so the options available depend on your device.
Common upload limits
| Where | Size limit | Suggested setting |
|---|---|---|
| Discord (free) | 10 MB | Target 8–9 MB, automatic resolution |
| 16 MB per video (larger as a document) | Target 15 MB | |
| Gmail / Outlook attachment | 25 MB / 20 MB | Target 19–24 MB |
| Telegram | 2 GB | Quality 60–70 to save data |
| Instagram / TikTok | up to ~4 GB | Quality 70+, keep 1080p |
| Websites & landing pages | as small as possible | Quality 40–55, 720p or 1080p |
Tips for the best results
- Trim what you don’t need first with the Video Trimmer — a shorter video gets more bitrate per second.
- Removing audio or switching to mono saves space for speech-only clips such as screen recordings.
- Screen recordings and slides compress extremely well; fast sports or confetti need more bitrate.
- Need an exact resolution such as 1280×720? Use the Video Resizer.