Free tool · Discord limit · Runs in your browser
Compress a video for Discord
Short answer
Discord Support says non-Nitro users can upload files up to 20MB, and that it is experimenting with limits, so some users can upload more. Under 20 MB, our test clip fits 6 min 22 s at 480p, 4 min 7 s at 720p and 2 min 17 s at 1080p, audio included.
Batch is free and unlimited - files are processed one after another on your device, with no queue or daily cap. Maximum 100 MB per file; the first run loads a ~30 MB engine once per visit.
Key takeaways
- Discord Support gives 20MB as the maximum upload for users without Nitro. It adds that Nitro subscribers can upload bigger files and that select users may be able to upload larger files during experiments.
- Images over 20MB uploaded directly are shared as a download instead of an inline image, according to the same page.
- Under 20 MB (20,000,000 bytes) the lengths for our test clip are 6 min 22 s at 480p, 4 min 7 s at 720p and 2 min 17 s at 1080p.
- Discord does not publish a resolution or codec limit for attachments on the page we read, so the limit that matters is the file size.
- If the video is over 100 MB, the compress tool will not take it; use a desktop encoder for that.
What Discord publishes
| Question | What Discord says |
|---|---|
| Maximum upload without Nitro | 20MB |
| With Nitro | You can upload even bigger files |
| Experiments | Discord is experimenting with file upload size limits; select users may be able to upload larger files |
| Images over 20MB | Shared as a download instead |
| Several videos in one message | Sent together and shown as a mosaic |
File Attachments FAQ, read 2026-10-09.
How much video fits under 20 MB
The table takes the highest video bitrate any of our three test sources needed at each preset, adds 128 kbps for audio and divides the limit by it. Animation compresses better than camera footage, so use the numbers as an upper bound.
| Preset | Highest video bitrate this clip needed | Total with audio | Length that fits under 20 MB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 480p | 290 kbps | 418 kbps | 6 min 22 s |
| 720p | 519 kbps | 647 kbps | 4 min 7 s |
| 1080p | 1,039 kbps | 1,167 kbps | 2 min 17 s |
How long a video fits under 20 MB, using the highest bitrate any of our three sources needed, plus 128 kbps audio.
Which preset to choose
720p is the usual choice: it needed 485 to 519 kbps for the video on our clip, which is about half of the 1080p preset (812 to 1,039 kbps). The 480p preset cuts the video bitrate to 273 to 290 kbps, which is where audio becomes a large share of the file: the 128 kbps track is 31% of the 10 second 480p output.
Discord says nothing on the page we read about re-encoding uploads, so keep the compressed file as the version you want people to see.
Exact size for a clip over the limit
Solve for the bitrate: for 60 seconds under 20,000,000 bytes, total kbps = 20,000,000 × 8 / 60 / 1000 = 2,667 kbps, of which 2,539 kbps is video after 128 kbps audio. A two-pass encode at that bitrate landed within 2% of its target in our test.
Free tools:Compress a videoVideo file size calculator
Where the lengths come from
The Discord lengths above are computed from nine measured runs of this compressor on one animated clip. The full table, with sizes, bitrates and quality scores for every preset, is on the Compress a video page.
Work out the bitrate for this limit
The calculator is set to the Discord limit. Change the length to see the video bitrate a two-pass encode needs.
- Total bitrate that fits
- 889 kbps
- Video bitrate after audio
- 760 kbps
- 480p preset on our test clip
- Likely fits: that clip needed up to 290 kbps
- 720p preset on our test clip
- Likely fits: that clip needed up to 519 kbps
- 1080p preset on our test clip
- Probably too big: that clip needed up to 1,039 kbps
- Two-pass commands at this bitrate
ffmpeg -y -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -b:v 760k -pass 1 -an -f null /dev/nullffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -b:v 760k -pass 2 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output.mp4
3 min under 20 MB: 20,000,000 bytes × 8 ÷ 180 s ÷ 1000 = 889 kbps, minus 128 kbps audio.
The presets are a guide taken from one animated clip. Camera footage with more motion needs more bits, so the final check is the size of your own file.
Questions people ask
What is the Discord upload limit?
Discord Support says the maximum file upload is 20MB for users without Nitro. Nitro subscribers can upload bigger files, and select users may have larger limits during experiments.
How do I compress a video for Discord?
Choose 480p or 720p in the compress tool, then check the downloaded file against 20 MB. For a hard cap, use a two-pass encode at the bitrate the formula gives.
How long can a video be under 20 MB?
On our test clip about 6 min 22 s at 480p, 4 min 7 s at 720p and 2 min 17 s at 1080p. Footage with more motion fits for less time.
Does Discord have a resolution limit for uploads?
The Discord page we read on 2026-10-09 gives a file size limit and no resolution or codec limit for attachments.
Why does my large Discord image appear as a download?
Discord says any image larger than 20MB uploaded directly is shared as a download instead.
More ways to shrink a video
Sources and how we checked
- Discord Support: File Attachments FAQ (read 2026-10-09)
- FFmpeg wiki: Encode/H.264 (CRF, presets and two-pass) (read 2026-10-06)
Reviewed October 9, 2026. Measurements ran the tool’s own ffmpeg arguments on the same single-thread WebAssembly engine your browser downloads. The evidence files are in data/seo/hub/evidence/2026-10-09/compress.