How to make a video smaller without ruining it
Smaller, but not ugly. There is an order that works, and there are things not to do. Here are the numbers to aim for.
The order that works
For the same target size, what you remove decides how it looks. In order of effect:
- Cut what you do not need (biggest win)
- Crop the edges of the frame
- Reduce or remove the sound
- Lower the resolution (last resort)
Halving the length doubles what the picture can use. Look at the length before you touch the resolution.
How much you need for each resolution
Rough, practical guidance for H.264:
| Per second | What it suits |
|---|---|
| 2.5Mbps and up | 1080p stays clean |
| 1.0–2.5Mbps | 720p |
| 0.5–1.0Mbps | 480p |
| 0.25–0.5Mbps | 360p; breaks up with motion |
| Under 0.25Mbps | Rough — trim instead |
Target size (MB) × 8 ÷ seconds gives what you have per second. A 3-minute video in 25MB is 25×8÷180 ≈ 1.1Mbps, so 720p is about the ceiling.
What not to do
- Compressing over and over. Video loses information each time it is re-encoded. Always start from the original file, including when a first attempt did not work out.
- Compressing a file that is already small. You lose quality without saving much. If the estimate is close to the original, use the original.
- Going smaller than you need. Look up the real limit and aim just under it — see upload limits.
By type of video
Screen recordings (walkthroughs, bug reports) Readable text matters most, so lower the resolution last. Cropping to the area you are demonstrating keeps the text sharp at the same file size. There is little motion, so these compress better than you would expect.
Phone footage 4K at 60fps carries a lot of data. 1080p is usually plenty. Handheld shake costs extra because there is motion everywhere.
Music and performances If the sound is the point, take the savings from the picture instead. And when the sound does not matter, muting frees about 4.8MB on a five-minute video.
Doing it in SakuConvert
- Open compress a video and choose your file.
- Pick a destination, or type your own target size.
- Check the estimate for the size and quality you will get.
- If the quality drops too far, use edit the length or crop first.
Everything runs inside your browser, so your video is not sent anywhere (why it is safe).