What are the best DaVinci Resolve export settings for YouTube in 2026?

For YouTube long-form video, export as MP4 or QuickTime with the H.264 codec, 3840×2160 resolution (4K UHD), the frame rate matching your timeline, a quality restriction of 80,000 Kb/s for 4K (or 30,000 Kb/s for 1080p), Constant Bitrate, multi-pass encoding ON, color space tag Rec.709, gamma tag Rec.709-A on Mac or Gamma 2.4 cross-platform, and AAC audio at 320 Kb/s and 48 kHz.

What bitrate should I use for Instagram Reels in DaVinci Resolve?

Use 12,000 to 15,000 Kb/s with Constant Bitrate. The most important rule for Reels is keeping the final file under 50 MB. Files larger than that get hit with significantly heavier compression on Instagram's side, which is the actual cause of soft, blurry uploads.

What bitrate should I use for TikTok in DaVinci Resolve?

The same as Instagram Reels: 12,000 to 15,000 Kb/s with Constant Bitrate, file size under 50 MB. TikTok will accept files up to 287 MB, but it compresses heavily anything above 70 MB.

Why does my DaVinci Resolve export look washed out on YouTube?

The cause is almost always gamma shift. YouTube assumes every uploaded file is tagged Rec.709-A regardless of what tag you applied. If your timeline is set to Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 and you export with that tag, YouTube reinterprets it as Rec.709-A, and the result looks washed out on non-Apple devices. Fix: either match your timeline and export tag to Rec.709-A across the board or set both to Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 if your audience is mostly on Windows and Android.

Can DaVinci Resolve Free export 4K?

Yes. The Free version exports at up to 3840×2160 (UHD 4K) at up to 60 fps in 8-bit color, with both H.264 and H.265 codecs. Studio is required only for resolutions beyond 4K, 10-bit precision, 120 fps, and ProRes/DNxHR delivery. For YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, the Free version is fully sufficient.

What's the difference between Rec.709 and Rec.709-A in DaVinci Resolve?

Both are based on the Rec.709 color space, but they use different gamma curves. Rec.709 with Gamma 2.4 is the broadcast standard and the safer cross-platform choice, especially for audiences on Windows, Android, and smart TVs. Rec.709-A is an Apple-tuned variant with a gamma curve closer to 2.2 that matches how macOS and iOS interpret video; it's ideal when your audience is mostly on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Should I use H.264 or H.265 for social media exports?

Use H.264 for all three platforms. YouTube re-encodes everything anyway and accepts H.264 most reliably. Instagram and TikTok have stronger H.264 compatibility on older devices and the web players. H.265 produces smaller files at the same quality, but the compatibility tradeoff isn't worth it for social exports.

What frame rate should I use for Instagram Reels and TikTok?

30 fps is the safest default for both, since it matches Instagram's and TikTok's native rendering rate. If you shot at 24 fps for a cinematic look, exporting at 24 fps is acceptable. Avoid 60 fps for Reels (Instagram strips it back to 30) and avoid mixing frame rates within a single edit.

Why are my Instagram Reels blurry after upload?

The two most common causes are exporting at the wrong resolution (4K Reels are not natively supported and trigger heavy recompression) and exceeding the 50 MB file-size sweet spot. Fix: export at 1080×1920 with a bitrate of 12,000 to 15,000 Kb/s, and keep the final file under 50 MB.

Should I export to MP4 or QuickTime from DaVinci Resolve?

For social media, MP4 is the safer default because it's universally supported. QuickTime works equally well on Mac and preserves richer metadata, but some Windows-based upload tools handle it less reliably. For YouTube, both formats produce identical end results.

How do I fix gamma shift in DaVinci Resolve exports?

In Preferences, enable "Use Mac display color profiles for viewers" (Mac only) and "Automatically tag Rec.709 Scene clips as Rec.709-A." In Project Settings > Color Management, set the timeline and output color space to Rec.709-A (for Apple-heavy audiences) or Rec.709 Gamma 2.4 (for cross-platform audiences). On the deliver page advanced settings, match the gamma tag to the timeline color space. Re-export and verify on the platform your audience uses.

Should I use CBR or VBR for social media exports?

Use CBR (Constant Bitrate) for all three social platforms. CBR keeps a steady data rate, which improves upload reliability and avoids occasional audio sync drift on heavy recompression. VBR is fine for archival and offline delivery but introduces small risks for social uploads.

Do I need DaVinci Resolve Studio to export for YouTube?

No. The Free version exports up to 4K UHD at 60 fps with H.264 and H.265, which covers everything 99 percent of YouTube creators need. Studio is worth considering only if you need 10-bit precision for aggressive color grading; resolutions beyond 4K; 120 fps; ProRes for client delivery; or the AI Neural Engine.

What's the best codec for the smallest file size in DaVinci Resolve?

H.265 (HEVC) produces roughly 30 to 50 percent smaller files than H.264 at the same visual quality. Use H.265 for personal archives, client previews, or YouTube-only exports. For Instagram and TikTok, stick with H.264 for compatibility.

How do I export a vertical video in DaVinci Resolve?

In Project Settings, set your timeline resolution to 1080×1920. In the deliver page, set the export resolution to 1080×1920 and toggle on "Use vertical resolution." Configure the rest of your settings using the Reels or TikTok values from the cheat sheet above.