Video Bandwidth Calculator
Pick a resolution, refresh rate, and color depth below. The calculator estimates the video data rate and shows which HDMI and DisplayPort versions (and which cable) can carry it — with or without Display Stream Compression (DSC).
These figures are a planning estimate — see How accurate is this estimate? below.
Once you know the rate, match it to a cable: see HDMI cable types and DisplayPort cable types, or compare connectors on HDMI vs DisplayPort.
How accurate is this estimate?
This calculator is a planning guide, not an exact specification. The figure it shows is the active-pixel data rate (width × height × refresh × bits per pixel) plus a typical ~5% allowance for blanking intervals. Real-world numbers vary slightly for a few reasons:
- Blanking timing depends on the mode. Modern displays use CVT reduced blanking (small overhead); older PC and TV timings add more, which nudges the rate up or down.
- The DSC ratio varies. We assume about 3:1 visually-lossless compression, but actual Display Stream Compression can be more or less depending on content and settings.
- Audio and control data share the link and add a small amount of overhead that is not counted here.
- The “usable bandwidth” per interface is shown after each one's encoding overhead (8b/10b for HDMI 1.4–2.0 and DisplayPort HBR, 16b/18b FRL for HDMI 2.1, 128b/132b for UHBR), which is why it is lower than the headline “48 Gbit/s”-style signaling rates.
Use it to choose the right interface and cable category. For borderline modes, confirm the exact specifications of your specific source, display, and cable before buying.
Bandwidth calculator: frequently asked questions
How is video bandwidth calculated?
The raw video data rate is the pixel count times the refresh rate times the bits per pixel: width × height × refresh × (color depth × 3) for full RGB, plus a small overhead for blanking intervals. Higher resolution, refresh rate, or color depth all increase the required bandwidth. The calculator above estimates this and compares it to each interface's capacity.
What is Display Stream Compression (DSC)?
DSC is a visually lossless compression (about 3:1) that lets a lower-bandwidth link carry higher resolutions and refresh rates. HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4+ support DSC, which is how they reach 8K and high-refresh 4K. The calculator flags when a mode needs DSC to fit.
Why do 4:2:0 chroma or 8-bit color need less bandwidth?
Both reduce the bits per pixel. Lower color depth (8-bit vs 10- or 12-bit) sends fewer bits per channel, and chroma subsampling (4:2:2 or 4:2:0) sends color for fewer pixels than full 4:4:4. Either lowers the data rate — which is why a borderline mode may fit at 4:2:0 but not 4:4:4.
Does the cable add bandwidth?
No. The cable cannot add bandwidth; it only needs to be rated to carry what the devices negotiate. Once you know the rate, pick a cable category that meets it — see HDMI cable types and DisplayPort cable types.
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