Mbps to kbps converter
To convert Mbps to kbps, multiply by 1,000. Twitch's recommendation of up to 6,000 kbps for 1080p60 is 6 Mbps of upload.
Tip: paste a reading like “12.4 MB/s” and the unit is picked for you.
1 Mbps equals:
- bps1,000,000
- kbps1,000
- Mbps1
- Gbps0.001
- B/s125,000
- kB/s125
- MB/s0.125
- GB/s0.000125
- MiB/s0.119209
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Formula
1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits and 1 kbps = 1,000 bits, so:
Common conversions
| Mbps | kbps |
|---|---|
| 0.5 Mbps | 500 kbps |
| 1 Mbps | 1,000 kbps |
| 2.5 Mbps | 2,500 kbps |
| 5 Mbps | 5,000 kbps |
| 6 Mbps | 6,000 kbps |
| 10 Mbps | 10,000 kbps |
| 20 Mbps | 20,000 kbps |
| 50 Mbps | 50,000 kbps |
Examples: encoder settings and upload speed
Streaming and recording software asks for video bitrate in kbps, while your upload speed is quoted in Mbps. Converting the upload to kbps shows how much room is left for the stream.
- Streaming 1080p60. Twitch recommends up to 6,000 kbps. Add 160 kbps of audio and the stream needs 6,160 kbps, or 6.16 Mbps. On a 10 Mbps upload (10,000 kbps), that uses about 62%, leaving little for a video call at the same time.
- A 20 Mbps upload. That is 20,000 kbps. A 6,000 kbps stream plus a 3,000 kbps 1080p Zoom upload together use 9,000 kbps, under half.
- A weak 5 Mbps upload. 5,000 kbps is not enough headroom for a 6,000 kbps stream; lower the encoder to something like 3,500 kbps and keep other uploads quiet.
The upload speed calculator adds these together with cameras and backups.
Pitfall: don't set the bitrate to the whole upload
A speed test shows a peak, and upload speed varies with time of day and Wi-Fi. If the encoder bitrate matches the full measured upload, dropped frames follow. Keep the stream bitrate comfortably below the tested figure and leave room for anything else the household sends. Also note that kbps and kB/s differ by a factor of 8: 6,000 kbps is 750 kB/s. To see a plan in kilobytes instead, use Mbps to kB/s; to go back from an encoder value to Mbps, use kbps to Mbps. What is Mbps? covers the unit itself.
Frequently asked questions
How many kbps is 6 Mbps?
6 Mbps is 6,000 kbps. Multiply megabits per second by 1,000 because network prefixes are decimal.
What upload speed do I need for a 6,000 kbps stream?
The stream itself needs 6 Mbps of upload plus audio. Allow extra headroom for variation and other devices; a 10 Mbps upload is tight, and more is safer if others are on calls at the same time.
Is 1 Mbps equal to 1,024 kbps?
No. Bit rates use decimal prefixes, so 1 Mbps is exactly 1,000 kbps. The 1,024 steps apply to binary byte units such as KiB and MiB.