DaVinci Resolve Export Settings for YouTube (Free Version)

YouTube export settings in free DaVinci Resolve: the YouTube preset, H.264, YouTube's recommended bitrates, audio and uploading straight to your channel.

Free DaVinci Resolve exports up to Ultra HD (3840×2160) with no watermark. A few settings on the Deliver page keep your video sharp on YouTube. The bitrates below come from YouTube's official recommendations.

Step by step

Open the Deliver page (the rocket icon in the bottom bar).
In Render Settings, pick the YouTube preset, then 1080p or 2160p.
Check Format: MP4 and Codec: H.264; keep resolution and frame rate the same as your timeline.
Under Quality, use Restrict to with the bitrate from the table below.
In the Audio tab use AAC at 48 kHz. Name the file, pick a folder, click Add to Render Queue, then start the render in the Render Queue on the right.

YouTube's recommended bitrates

1080p, 24–30 fps: 8 Mbps (8,000 kbps)
1080p, 48–60 fps: 12 Mbps
4K, 24–30 fps: 35–45 Mbps
4K, 48–60 fps: 53–68 Mbps

Tips

Make sure Entire Timeline is selected so you don't export only an In/Out range.
For Shorts, set the timeline to 1080×1920 before editing, then export as above.
You can upload straight to YouTube after linking your account in Preferences → System → Internet Accounts. Keep a copy on disk and publish as private first.
On Windows, hardware-accelerated encoding is mostly a Studio feature, so free renders can be slower.

How much is free

The free version is plenty for YouTube: Ultra HD at 60 fps, no watermark, no length limit. Studio ($295 one-time) adds higher resolutions, GPU acceleration and HDR tools.

Based on official sites, help pages and app stores, checked October 30, 2026; menus may change with updates.

The full YouTube creator toolkit: YouTube Creator Toolkit 2026