Bit Rate Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the bit rate calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Bit Rate Calculator

Formulas Used

Bit Rate

bit_rate_kbps = sample_rate_khz * bit_depth * channels

Bit Rate (Mbps)

bit_rate_mbps = sample_rate_khz * bit_depth * channels / 1000

Data Rate

bytes_per_sec = sample_rate_khz * 1000 * bit_depth * channels / 8

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
sample_rate_khzSample Rate(kHz)44.1
bit_depthBit Depth(bits)16
channelsNumber of Channels2

How It Works

Digital Bit Rate

Formula

Bit Rate = Sample Rate x Bit Depth x Channels

For example, CD audio is 44.1 kHz x 16 bits x 2 channels = 1411.2 kbps. This is the uncompressed data rate before any codec.

Worked Example

CD audio: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo.

sample_rate_khz = 44.1bit_depth = 16channels = 2
  1. 01Bit rate = 44.1 x 16 x 2 = 1411.2 kbps
  2. 02Bit rate = 1.411 Mbps
  3. 03Bytes/sec = 44100 x 16 x 2 / 8 = 176,400 B/s

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between bit rate and baud rate?

Bit rate is bits per second. Baud rate is symbols per second. With multi-bit symbols, bit rate = baud rate x bits per symbol.

How does compression affect bit rate?

Lossless (FLAC) compresses to ~50-60% of raw. Lossy (MP3) compresses to 10-25% with some quality loss.

What bit rate do I need for USB?

USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps, USB 3.0 supports 5 Gbps. Check that your data rate fits within the interface bandwidth.

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Bit Rate Calculator