1080p, 720p or 480p? Choosing YouTube Download Quality
How resolution affects file size, and which option fits your device.
YouTube stores every video in several versions. Higher resolution means a sharper picture and a much larger file.
- 480p: around 5–8 MB per minute. Fine on phones.
- 720p: around 10–15 MB per minute. Good on laptops.
- 1080p: around 20–30 MB per minute. Best for TVs and editing.
Why HD takes longer
YouTube keeps HD picture and sound in separate streams. We merge them into one MP4 for you, which takes a few extra seconds.
