How much data does YouTube use?

YouTube has become a big part of how we enjoy the internet, with millions of people tuning in every day. There is so much video being watched – over a billion hours worth every single day! All that watching means a lot of data is being used up.

As someone who loves to travel, I often spend my time watching YouTube videos made by other travelers. They give great advice and reviews on places I want to visit. But since I am always on the move, I have wondered: How much data does YouTube use?

Turns out, it can use anywhere from 1 GB to 7 GB per hour. But that’s just a rough estimate because the actual amount can vary depending on different things. Let’s dig into the details in this article!

Does YouTube use data?

Yes, watching videos on YouTube requires an internet connection and uses mobile data or WiFi data. The amount of data used depends on the video quality, length of videos watched, and other factors.

YouTube allows users to select video quality from 144p at the lowest up to 4K at the highest. Higher video quality uses more data per minute compared to lower quality. Watching videos at 144p uses the least amount of data, while 4K video uses the most data.

In addition to video quality, according to TVREV, based on research from Tubular Labs, longer videos naturally use more data than shorter videos. So watching an hour of videos at 720p will use more data than watching 15 minutes of videos at the same 720p quality.

To watch YouTube without worrying about data limits, you can consider getting our eSIM data plan. It typically allows you to stream YouTube videos without restrictions on data usage, as you have a chance to top up your plan whenever you want. 

Plus, you will be connected to 4G/5G/LTE networks in every country you travel to. The eSIM also supports a VPN feature for unrestricted browsing, so you can enjoy streaming your favourite videos without any limits!

How much data does YouTube use?

On average, streaming a standard-definition (SD) video on YouTube might consume around 1-2 GB of data per hour. Streaming high-definition (HD) video can consume around 3-5 GB per hour, while streaming in 4K resolution can use up to 7-10 GB per hour or even more.

Here is an overview of how much data YouTube uses per hour for different video qualities:

• 144p (low quality): Roughly 150MB per hour
• 240p (low quality): Roughly 200MB per hour
• 360p (standard definition): Roughly 300MB per hour
• 480p (standard definition): Roughly 450MB per hour
• 720p HD: Roughly 900MB per hour
• 1080p HD: Roughly 1.5GB per hour
• 1440p HD: Roughly 2.5GB per hour
• 2160p 4K UHD: Roughly 4.5GB per hour

So watching YouTube at 144p quality uses about 100MB of data per hour. At the highest 4K quality, an hour of YouTube videos can use about 7GB of data or more.

In summary, binge-watching YouTube videos can be a fun way to pass the time, but it can also eat away at your data plan in a flash.

FAQs

   1. Does using YouTube use a lot of data?

It depends entirely on the video quality and length of the videos you watch. At lower video qualities like 144p or 240p, an hour of YouTube uses 100-150MB, which is quite small. However, watching YouTube videos at 720p for an hour uses about 1GB of data. And 4K video quality can use over 7GB per hour.

In comparison to other platforms, YouTube’s data usage can be higher than some. For example, Netflix’s data usage is around 3GB per hour for HD, which is less than YouTube’s data usage at the same quality

So YouTube has the potential to use a lot of data at higher video quality or when watching for long periods of time. But at lower video quality, the data usage is quite minimal.

   2. How much data does YouTube use in 1 hour?

The amount of data that YouTube uses in one hour depends on several factors, including the video quality you’re streaming. Here’s an approximate breakdown:

• Standard definition (SD): Streaming in SD typically uses around 1-2 GB of data per hour.
• High definition (HD): Streaming in HD can use approximately 3-5 GB of data per hour.
• 4K resolution: Streaming in 4K resolution may consume 7-10 GB of data per hour or even more.

Ultimately, the best way to know exactly how much data you’re using is to check your device’s data usage monitor after watching a few videos at your preferred quality. This will give you a personalized understanding of your YouTube data consumption.

   3. How much data does 144p YouTube use?

At the lowest 144p quality, YouTube videos use about 100MB of data per hour.

144p is the lowest resolution YouTube offers at 256×144 pixels. At this quality, the videos are quite pixelated and blurry, but data usage is minimal.

Since most videos on YouTube are now HD quality at 720p or 1080p, watching at 144p allows you to save significantly on data usage. So if you’re worried about using too much data on YouTube, limiting video quality to 144p is a good option.

Wrap up

Now you have known the answer to the question: How much data does YouTube use? It is clear that YouTube has the potential to use varying amounts of data depending on factors like video quality, length of viewing, and type of content. At lower qualities like 144p or 240p, data usage is quite minimal at about 100-150MB per hour. But bandwidth consumption can quickly add up at 720p and higher resolutions.

By understanding how much data YouTube videos consume in different settings, you can better manage your data limits. Last but not least, please like and share this article if you find it helpful.