Display Bandwidth Calculator: HDMI, DP & USB-C

Active payload is width × height × refresh rate × bits per pixel × stream count. RGB/4:4:4 uses three channels; 4:2:2 uses two and 4:2:0 uses one and a half in this sampling model. Add the selected blanking allowance, then divide by the DSC ratio. The 3% default is an assumption, not an exact timing standard.

The table uses video payload budgets, after modeled link encoding. HDMI FRL modes do not all run at 48 Gbps; DisplayPort HBR and UHBR modes have different capacities. Less than 8% reserve is marked tight as a planning heuristic. A DSC fit still requires compatible source, receiver and path support.

A USB-C connector may carry two or four DisplayPort lanes, or a tunneled display link. Thunderbolt/USB4 headline rates include shared transport rather than a dedicated video payload guarantee. Use the dock’s documented DP budget in the custom field. Multiple streams are treated as sharing one budget; the calculator does not infer a dock’s MST topology.

This page does not query your GPU, monitor EDID or cable certification. Exact video timings, protocol-specific 4:2:2 packing, audio, adapters and negotiated modes may consume different bandwidth. Newer advertised raw link rates, including HDMI 2.2, should not be entered as payload without documented conversion. Test the real equipment and consult its specifications.