Video Resolution Explained: 480p, 720p, 1080p and 4K
October 27, 2026
What resolution is
Resolution is the number of pixels, the tiny dots, that make up each frame of a video, written as width by height. The "p" in 720p or 1080p stands for progressive scan and the number is the height in pixels. More pixels can show more detail, but they also need more data, which makes the file bigger.
The common sizes
- 480p (about 854×480): standard definition. Fine for small screens, slow connections and quick previews.
- 720p (1280×720): high definition. A good balance for phones, messaging and most web use.
- 1080p (1920×1080): full high definition. The usual choice for video you want to look sharp on a computer or a TV.
- 4K (3840×2160): ultra high definition. Four times as many pixels as 1080p, so very large files and heavy editing.
Resolution and file size
When you double the width and the height, you quadruple the pixels. A 4K frame has four times as many pixels as a 1080p frame and a 1080p frame has about 2.25 times as many as a 720p frame. Files do not grow by exactly the same factor, because compression depends on the content, but the direction is the same: higher resolution needs more data, and at the same file size, a higher resolution has less data to spend on each pixel. That is why a long 1080p clip squeezed into a small file can look worse than the same clip at 720p.
Choosing the right resolution
- Messaging and email: 720p is usually enough, and it keeps the file small. See our guide on compressing a video for WhatsApp.
- Social media: 1080 pixels is the common target, and platforms recompress what you upload. For vertical formats, the same numbers apply with width and height swapped.
- Web pages and presentations: 720p or 1080p, depending on how large the video appears on the page.
- Editing and archiving: keep the highest resolution you have and make smaller copies for sharing.
Larger is not always better
A bigger picture only looks sharper if the screen is big enough to show it and the original has the detail. On a phone screen the difference between 1080p and 4K is hard to see, while the file can be four times heavier. Higher resolution also needs a faster connection to stream and more power to play.
Upscaling does not add detail
Making a low-resolution video larger, for example turning 480p into 1080p, does not add the detail that was never recorded. The picture becomes bigger, but it stays soft. Sometimes upscaling is still useful, for example to meet a minimum size a platform asks for, but do not expect a sharper picture.
How to change a video's resolution
Use the video resizer and choose 480p, 720p, 1080p or a custom height. The width is calculated automatically to keep the original shape, so nothing is stretched. Because the video has to be re-encoded, it takes longer than a simple trim. If your goal is mainly a smaller file, the video compressor can aim for a specific size, and to change the shape of the frame for social media, use the social video cropper. Our guide on making a vertical video shows how.
Frame rate is a different thing
Resolution is how many pixels are in each frame. Frame rate is how many frames appear each second, commonly 24, 30 or 60. They are independent: a clip can be high resolution at a low frame rate or the other way round, and both affect file size.
Everything described here runs in your browser, so your videos are never uploaded to a server.
Frequently asked questions
What does the p in 1080p mean?
It stands for progressive scan, where each frame is drawn in full. The number is the height of the picture in pixels.
Is 4K worth it?
It is useful for editing, large screens and future-proofing, but on a phone the difference from 1080p is hard to see and the file can be four times heavier.
How is a vertical video described?
A vertical video is usually described by its two sides, for example 1080×1920, which is the vertical version of full high definition.