How to use the Compress Video to 15MB tool
- Choose your video, or drag it onto the box.
- Pick a quality level, or switch to "Target size" and type the size you need.
- Press Compress video and wait for the progress bar to finish.
- Compare the before and after sizes, preview the result and download it.
About this tool
A file size limit is really a bitrate budget: 15 MB of storage spread over the length of your video. The table below shows what that budget looks like for different lengths. Short videos fit 15 MB with plenty of room to spare; long videos need a much lower bitrate and a lower resolution.
When you press Compress, the tool encodes your video and checks the result. If it lands over the limit, it lowers the bitrate and tries again (up to a few passes), so you get a file that is actually under 15 MB rather than an estimate. If your video is already smaller than 15 MB, it tells you and gives your original back.
Where a 15 MB limit shows up
Just under WhatsApp's roughly 16 MB media limit, and below many mail servers' 20 MB caps.
- About a minute at 720p fits with room to spare.
- For messaging apps, 720p is plenty; the app compresses again anyway.
- Use the WhatsApp Video Compressor if that is your destination.
What does 15 MB look like?
Approximate total bitrate (video plus audio) available for a 15 MB file:
| Video length | Total bitrate | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 30 sec | 3,999 kbps | 1080p looks great |
| 1 min | 1,999 kbps | 1080p or 720p, good |
| 2 min | 1,000 kbps | 720p, fine |
| 5 min | 400 kbps | 360p, soft |
| 10 min | 200 kbps | very low, heavy loss |
As a rule of thumb, 1080p needs about 3,500 kbps or more, 720p about 1,500 to 2,500 kbps, and 480p about 700 to 1,000 kbps to look clean.
Why use ToolsCrow for this
- Hits the target. Verified by measuring the result and retrying.
- Automatic resolution. Scales down only when the budget requires it.
- Private. Nothing is uploaded.
- No watermark. Free.
Good to know
- Long videos at 15 MB will look soft. If quality matters more than the limit, split the video into parts with Split Video.
- The result can land a little under the target, not exactly on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser tab using your own device's video hardware. Your file is never sent to ToolsCrow or anyone else, which also means there is no waiting for an upload and it keeps working if your connection drops after the page has loaded.
Is it really free? Is there a watermark?
It is free with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limits. The only limits are the ones your device sets: memory and processing power.
How large a video can I use?
Because the video is processed on your device, the limit is your device's memory rather than a server quota. Phone clips of several hundred MB are fine on most devices, and desktop computers usually handle 1 to 2 GB. Files over about 4 GB are not supported.
Which browsers work best?
Current Chrome, Edge and Safari (16.4 or newer, including iPhone and iPad) work best because they include the WebCodecs video engine. Recent Firefox versions work for many files. Older browsers fall back to a much slower real-time mode or may not work at all.
Can I compress a 10-minute video to 15 MB?
It is possible but the quality will be low: 15 MB over 10 minutes is only about 200 kbps in total. Consider splitting the video or lowering the length.
Why is my file a bit smaller than the target?
Video encoders cannot hit an exact size, so the tool aims just under it to make sure it never goes over.
Related video tools
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- Compress Video to 10MBReduce a video to about 10 MB without guessing at settings.
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- WhatsApp Video CompressorGet a video ready for WhatsApp in one step.
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