Live Streaming Tool
4K & Live TV Bandwidth Calculator
Accurately predict throughput requirements, codec compression ratios (AV1 vs HEVC vs AVC), and monthly data allowances across multiple concurrent displays.
2 Screens
1 screen
4 screens
8 screens
HEVC (H.265): Standard high-efficiency codec on modern Smart TVs and FireStick 4K devices.
4 hours / day
Recommended Minimum Plan
50
Mbps Fiber/Cable
Raw Stream Bitrate:
18.0 Mbps
Concurrent Total:
36.0 Mbps
Bufferbloat Safety Margin:
+35% Overhead
Hourly Consumption:
16.2 GB/hr
Estimated Monthly Data:
1,944 GB (1.94 TB)
Network Stability Diagnostic
For 2 concurrent 4K feeds (36 Mbps), a Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router on the 5 GHz band is recommended. If your TV is more than 8 meters from the router, use Cat6 Ethernet to prevent bufferbloat.
Codec Efficiency & Hardware Acceleration Comparison
| Codec | Bitrate (4K 60fps) | Efficiency vs AVC | Hardware Support | Licensing Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV1 | 12 - 16 Mbps | +50% more efficient | FireStick 4K Max (Gen 2), Google TV Streamer, 2021+ TVs | Open-source, Royalty-Free |
| HEVC (H.265) | 15 - 22 Mbps | +40% more efficient | Universal 4K displays (Tizen, webOS, Fire OS, tvOS) | Patent Pool (MPEG LA) |
| AVC (H.264) | 25 - 35 Mbps | Baseline legacy | 100% universal across all legacy & mobile devices | Standard Licensing |