Supported Video & Audio Formats

Blender uses FFmpeg to handle video encoding and decoding. These formats are primarily used to compress rendered image sequences into playable movies.

A video file is typically composed of:

• A container – wraps video, audio, and metadata into a single file.

• A video codec – compresses the video stream.

• An audio codec – compresses the audio stream (optional).

Supported Video Containers

The container stores encoded streams but does not define how they are compressed.

MPEG-4:

While also referring to a family of codecs, MPEG-4 is a container format capable of storing video and audio streams encoded with various codecs. It is widely supported across modern software and hardware.

File Extensions: .mp4, .mpg, .mpeg

Matroska:

A free open-standard container format capable of holding multiple video, audio, subtitle, and metadata tracks in a single file.

File Extension: .mkv

WebM:

A free open-standard container designed primarily for web streaming. This container supports VP9 or AV1 video and Vorbis or Opus audio codecs.

File Extension: .webm

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AVI:

One of the earliest and most widely used video container formats, derived from the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF).

File Extension: .avi

DV:

A digital video container used by many legacy camcorders. This container enforces the DV video codec and stores audio uncompressed.

File Extension: .dv

Flash:

A container format formerly used for internet video delivery through Adobe Flash Player. This container enforces specific codecs.

File Extension: .flv

MPEG-1:

A container format for lossy video and audio compression. It enforces the MPEG-1 codec family.

File Extensions: .mpg, .mpeg

MPEG-2:

A container used for DVD and broadcast video. It enforces MPEG-2 encoding for video and associated audio streams.

File Extensions: .dvd, .vob, .mpg, .mpeg

Ogg:

A free open-standard container capable of holding multiple video, audio, subtitle, or metadata streams.

File Extensions: .ogg, .ogv

QuickTime:

A multi-track container format. It shares many codecs with MP4. While largely interchangeable in some workflows, MP4 is more widely supported.

File Extension: .mov

Supported Video Codecs

Codecs compress video and audio data to reduce file size and enable continuous playback.

Lossy codecs reduce file size by discarding some data. They produce smaller files at the expense of image or audio quality.

Lossless codecs preserve all original data while still applying compression. They result in larger files but maintain full fidelity.

Some codecs are optimized for distribution and streaming (e.g., H.264, AV1), while others are designed for editing and intermediate workflows (e.g., ProRes, DNxHD).

Because codecs are required for both encoding and decoding, they must be available on both the system creating the file and the device playing it.

Not all codecs are available in all containers.

No Video:

For audio-only encoding.

AV1:

A free open-standard lossy video compression format designed as a successor to VP9. Offers high compression efficiency and supports HDR output.

H.264:

A widely used lossy codec offering a strong compression-to-quality ratio. Common for streaming and general delivery.

H.265 / HEVC:

An improved successor to H.264 with better compression efficiency. Supports HDR output and higher bit depths.

WEBM / VP9:

A free open-standard lossy video codec widely used for internet streaming. Supports alpha channel transparency.

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DNxHD:

Intended as an intermediate editing format. Can operate in either lossy or lossless modes.

DV:

See Containers.

FFmpeg video codec #1:

A lossless intra-frame video codec. Supports alpha channel transparency.

Flash Video:

See Containers.

HuffYUV:

A lossless codec designed to replace uncompressed YCbCr capture formats.

MPEG-1:

See Containers.

MPEG-2:

See Containers.

MPEG-4(DivX):

A lossy codec extending MPEG standards with additional compression features.

ProRes:

A high-quality, visually lossless codec commonly used in professional post-production.

Supports configurable Profile.

PNG:

Stores each frame as an independent image in the stream. Lossless and supports alpha channel transparency.

QuickTime Animation:

Legacy lossless QuickTime codec supporting alpha channel transparency.

Theora:

A free open-standard lossy codec designed for the Ogg container.

Supported Features

Codec	Compression	Color Depth	Alpha	HDR
AV1	Lossy	8, 10, 12bit	✗	✓
H.264	Lossy	8, 10bit	✗	✗
H.265 / HEVC	Lossy	8, 10, 12bit	✗	✓
WEBM / VP9	Lossy	8bit	✓	✗
DNxHD	Lossy / Lossless	8bit	✗	✗
DV	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗
FFmpeg video codec #1	Lossless	8, 10, 12, 16bit	✓	✗
Flash Video	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗
HuffYUV	Lossless	8bit	✗	✗
MPEG-1	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗
MPEG-2	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗
MPEG-4 (DivX)	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗
ProRes	Visually Lossless	8, 10bit	✗	✗
PNG	Lossless	8bit	✓	✗
QuickTime Animation	Lossless	8bit	✓	✗
Theora	Lossy	8bit	✗	✗

FFmpeg Audio Codecs

No Audio:

For video-only encoding.

AAC:

A standardized lossy audio codec providing better quality than MP3 at similar bit rates.

AC3:

Dolby Digital audio compression format.

FLAC:

A free lossless audio codec reducing file size while preserving full fidelity.

MP2:

A lossy audio compression format.

MP3:

A widely supported lossy audio compression format.

Opus:

A modern lossy codec designed for speech and general audio. Intended as a successor to Vorbis.

PCM:

Uncompressed digital audio format.

Vorbis:

A free open-standard lossy audio codec comparable to AAC or MP3.

HDR Support

Videos can be rendered using wide-gamut and HDR color spaces.

To export HDR video:

• Set Color Management Display to Rec.2100 PQ or HLG.

• Set Video Codec to H.265 / HEVC or AV1.

• Set Bit Depth to 10 or 12.

HDR videos are written with 100 nits diffuse white to match common video player conventions.

Compatibility varies between players and devices. 10-bit PQ is generally the most compatible HDR configuration.

Known Limitations

Video Output Size

Some codecs impose output size restrictions. For example, H.264 requires both width and height to be divisible by 2.