What is a frame rate? Super simple guide for beginners

What is a frame rate? It might sound like the term provided for film school students, but don’t worry, this is quite simple. At least, the way we explain it.

Think like this: Movement is built from silence. A video is really just a fast sequence of silent images, displayed quickly enough to deceive your brain to see smooth movements. And once you understand how it works, you will start seeing your video (and how to fix it) in a completely new light.

Ready to break the frame after frame? Let’s Divide immediately!

List of contents
– What is a frame rate?
– The most common video frame rate
– Camera frame rate: How to choose the right one
– Best Video Frames for Social Media Platforms
– Edit your video with podcastle

What is a frame rate?

To understand this better and faster, let’s think of video as a stop-motion animation made with a toy figure. Every time the figure was moved only a little and the photo was taken, he caught the small part of the action. When all the photos are rotated quickly one by one, it creates an illusion that the toy moves alone. The illusion of movement is possible because our eyes and brain unite individual images.

This is basically what happens in a video. The frame is a single silent image, and the frame rate is the number of images displayed every second to make continuous movements. So, when we say video has a certain frame rate, we talk about how many individual frames appear per second (FPS) to form a moving image that we see on the screen.

The faster the frame is displayed sequentially, the more natural and the fluid moves. If too little frame is displayed per second, the video can be seen wavy or staggered, like a flipbook book reversed “Slooooooowly“.

This is why choosing the right frame rate for your video is important and can make a big difference in how your content feels and performance.

The most common video frame rate

Now we have broken the frame and rebuild it in a simpler way, this is the right time to quickly switch to the most common frame rate, for what they are used, and how to choose the right based on your goals and equipment.

24 FPS – Cinematic Standards

Best for: Storytelling, documentary, narrative video, YouTube vlog with a cinematic display.

24 FPS has long been a gold standard for film and cinematic stories. This creates a slightly bright natural appearance and we are all accustomed to seeing on the big screen. The subtle movement Blur adds to emotions and realism, which is why you can see many default content makers 24 FPS for vibrations like movies.

If you are a content creator on your first personal vlog, short movies, or brand story videos, 24 FPS will help give your recorded depth that is polished and emotional.

30 FPS-Frame Friendly Web Video Frames

Best for: Speaking of head videos, online courses, direct streaming, social content.

A little smoother than 24 fps, 30 fps is usually used in television and digital content. This is a safe and solid choice for most online platforms and provides a crispy real-time feel.

Having a good balance between clarity and realism, 30 FPS is ideal for recording courses for your business, doing client updates, or uploading an explanation video to YouTube or LinkedIn.

60 fps – smooth and sharp

Best for: Tutorials, product demos, video games, sports, detailed technology reviews.

60 FPS doubles the frame per second of 30 FPS, making the movement significantly smoother. This is ideal for fast -paced content where clarity is important, such as showing off the workings of the product, shooting shooting action, or doing screen recordings.

120 fps – slow motion magic

Best for: Dramatic slow motion shots, social clips, sports replays.

120 fps is most often used when you want to slow down post-production things. This high video frame rate captures movements in very beautiful details, which are very suitable to emphasize certain moments, such as sparks in product advertisements or high-speed action scenes.

If you are a creator of film making tutorial content and want, say, highlight the makeup application in slow motion, 120 fps maybe you need.

Camera Frame Rate: How to Choose the Right

With all these different frame rates out there, how do you find the camera that you need?

Luckily for you, today, most modern smartphones can record in all of the video frames above, even up to 240 fps in some cases. Iphone and upper -class Android devices (such as Samsung’s Galaxy S and Google Pixel Lines) bring you all 24, 30, 60, and 120 fps, especially if you use the original camera application or Pro mode.

When it comes to the camera, Canon EOS R, Sony Alpha Series, or Panasonic Lumix GH5 usually supports 24, 30, and 60 fps in the original. Many also offer 120 fps in full HD, even though you may lose automatic or audio focus in that mode, so check again before you get a camera or start photographing.

Gopros and cam similar action often record up to 120 or even 240 FPS, and are very good for capturing high -speed activities such as cycling, skiing, or skateboard. Don’t forget that a high frame rate means a larger video size and faster battery consumption, so before choosing what will be recorded with your video content, make sure you know what you might sacrifice.

So, before choosing a frame rate for your video, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What style are you looking for?
2. What platform do you post?
3. What is the purpose of your video?

Once you have an answer formed on your head, you will know exactly which frame rate and camera are the best for you!

It should not be surprising that different social media platforms support various frame rates, and wrong uploading can cause playback problems, compression disorders, or less professional videos. This is what you need to know about the frame rate of each social media platform, before you start recording or uploading:

Best FPS For Youtube

Youtube is the most flexible in terms of frame rate. It supports 24, 30, 60 fps, and even higher levels such as 120 fps, especially useful if you edit in slow movements. For most videos, 30 fps is good. If you make a high -energy tutorial, sports content, or video game, 60 FPS will provide a smoother watching experience. Although you can upload 120 fps recordings, YouTube usually plays video back at a maximum of 60 fps, so the high frame rate is best used for editing slow motion.

Best FPS for Instagram

Instagram is a little more limited. Although the scrolls, stories, and bait posts technically support up to 60 fps, this platform compresses and often reduces the frame rate during uploads. That means something higher than 30 FPS may not be played as expected. For the best results, stay at 30 FPS when editing your video.

Best FPS for Tiktok

Tiktok Supports up to 60 fps too, but, like Instagram, it processes your video after being uploaded, so that the results can vary depending on the device and internet speed. Honestly, 30 FPS seems to be the most reliable choice for smooth playback on all devices.

Best FPS for Facebook

Facebook supports videos up to 60 fps, which is good for makers and brands who want to post high quality content. Standard videos such as interviews, news style updates, or content behind the scenes work well at 30 FPS. For heavy promos or events, 60 FPS adds to polish and clarity. Know that, like other platforms, Facebook applies some compression during uploads, so make sure your video is exported correctly before posting.

Best FPS for LinkedIn

LinkedIn Perhaps the most conservative platform in this list when it comes to the video rate frame. It supports frame rates between 24 and 30 fps and does not officially support higher frame rates such as 60 or 120 fps. For professional content such as the leadership video of thought, explanation, or company renewal, 30 FPS will give you the best quality and compatibility mixture.

Now, to place this all in one simple paragraph, while many cameras and smartphones allow you to take pictures at 60 or even 120 fps, most social platforms are optimized for 30 fps. If you plan to slow down your video later, please and shoot in a high frame rate. But for most of the daily videos, still with 24 or 30 fps usually work the best. This makes things simple and make sure your video is played back smoothly without hiccups.

Edit your video with podcastle

So that is, a guide without your personal stress for video frames. And now after you understand how it works, your next project will sound promising. Because you will make a deliberate creative choice based on your style, your platform, and your vision.

And hey, if all the conversation about FPS makes you itch to reach the recording immediately, why not bring your video editing to the clouds? With a video podcastle editor, you can easily perfect your recordings, explore the frame rate, and polish your project, all in a beginner -friendly platform.

Simple, smart, and made for everyone!

Questions that are often asked

Can you increase the video frame rate?

Yes, you can increase video frames using video editing software. These tools add additional frames between the original to make the video look smoother. However, this does not improve the overall quality or detail, and sometimes it can make the video look rather strange if the movements are too fast or complex.

What is the best frame rate for 4K video?

The best video frame rate for 4K video depends on what type of video you make. If you are looking for a movie style appearance, 24 frames per second (FPS) is a good choice. For ordinary videos, 30 FPS functions well. If you want a smooth movement, such as for sports or action scenes, 60 FPS is the best.

What is the best frame rate for 1080p video?

1080p video works well with 24, 30, or 60 fps. Use 24 fps for more cinematic feel, 30 fps for most of the daily videos, and 60 fps if you want to move fast. It really depends on the style you are aiming for and what is best for your content.

What is the best frame rate for YouTube?

YouTube supports 24, 30, and 60 FPS. Most creators use 30 FPS because this is a good middle ground. If your video has many movements, such as games, sports, or fast scenes, 60 fps will look smoother and more professional.

What is the best frame rate for Instagram rolls?

The best video frame rate for Instagram rolls is usually 30 fps. It plays smoothly in most phones and works well with applications. While Instagram supports other video frames such as 24 and 60 FPS, 30 FPS is the safest and easiest option for most users.

What is the highest FPS camera?

Some special cameras used in science and research can shoot up to 1.75 million frames per second, but they are not for daily use. For regular makers, high -class consumer cameras such as Gopro Hero12 or Sony RX100 can record up to 240 fps in HD, which is good for making soft slow motion videos.