AV1 Level 5.1 Maximum Bitrate Limits

Under the AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) specification, Level 5.1 defines performance boundaries for decoding high-definition and 4K media. The maximum permitted bitrate under AV1 Level 5.1 is 160 Mbps (160,000 kbps) when operating in the High Tier, and 40 Mbps (40,000 kbps) when operating in the standard Main Tier.

Bitrate Breakdown by Tier

AV1 enforces limits based on two tiers to accommodate different hardware capabilities:

• Main Tier: The maximum bitrate is 40 Mbps. This tier targets mass-market consumer playback devices, such as mobile phones, streaming sticks, smart TVs, and web browsers, ensuring reliable decoding without overwhelming hardware decoders or network buffers.
• High Tier: The maximum bitrate is 160 Mbps. This tier is designed for demanding environments, such as professional mastering, broadcast contribution, or high-fidelity video storage, where higher data throughput is required to preserve quality.

Additional Level 5.1 Specifications

Bitrate constraints function alongside other decoding thresholds set for Level 5.1:

• Maximum Resolution and Frame Rate: Supports typical configurations up to 3840×2160 (4K UHD) at 60 frames per second.
• Max Picture Size: 8,912,896 luma samples per frame.
• Max Display Rate: 534,773,760 luma samples per second.
• Buffer Size (CPB): The maximum Coded Picture Buffer (CPB) size is 40,000 kb for the Main Tier and 160,000 kb for the High Tier.

Any video stream targeting AV1 Level 5.1 compliance must ensure its compressed bitstream stays within the 40 Mbps threshold for standard playback or the 160 Mbps ceiling for specialized high-tier profiles.