480p
480p is a video resolution 480 pixels tall with progressive scan, usually 854 x 480 pixels for widescreen 16:9 video or 640 x 480 for older 4:3 video. It is called standard definition (SD) and is similar in sharpness to DVD. In streaming, 480p serves as a lower-quality fallback for slow or unstable connections.
Why it matters
480p keeps video playing when networks are weak or data is expensive. Without it, viewers on slow connections face constant buffering and leave. It is cheap to deliver, which matters for services with large audiences in regions where mobile data costs a lot.
How it works
- Each frame is 480 rows tall, usually 854 pixels wide for 16:9 video.
- Encoders include a 480p version near the bottom of the bitrate ladder.
- Players drop to 480p when the connection cannot support 720p or higher.
Is 480p HD?
No, 480p is not HD. It is standard definition (SD), similar in sharpness to a DVD. HD starts at 720p. On a small phone screen, 480p can still look acceptable for talking heads, but on laptops and TVs it looks soft and blurry.
How much data does 480p use?
480p data use depends on its bitrate. As a worked example, a 1 Mbps stream uses about 450 MB per hour, while a 5 Mbps 1080p stream uses about 2.25 GB. That gap is why many mobile apps offer data-saver modes that cap video at 480p or lower.
Where it's used
Creator apps and video platforms serving viewers on weak or expensive mobile networks keep 480p as a fallback, so video keeps playing instead of buffering, at the cost of sharpness.
By the numbers
- YouTube recommends 2.5 Mbps for 480p SDR uploads at 24 to 30 fps. (YouTube recommended upload encoding settings)
