4K video — officially 3840×2160 pixels — delivers four times the detail of standard 1080p HD. Whether you're saving nature documentaries, cinematic shorts, or tutorials for offline use, Vid1080 lets you download 4K videos directly from YouTube, Vimeo, and 1000+ other platforms without installing a single piece of software. Just paste the URL, pick 2160p, and save.
What Makes 4K Different From 1080p?
4K resolution packs 8.3 million pixels into every frame, compared to 2.1 million for 1080p. The difference is immediately visible on larger screens — sharpness, fine texture, and color depth all improve dramatically. YouTube hosts thousands of 4K videos, and Vimeo is a popular destination for 4K cinematography. When you download, Vid1080 displays every available resolution so you can choose the quality that matches your storage and screen.
File Sizes and Storage Planning for 4K
Storage is the biggest consideration when downloading 4K content. At 60fps, a single hour of 4K footage can occupy between 2 GB and 4 GB depending on compression. At 30fps the figure drops to around 1–2 GB per hour. Before downloading, check the file size indicator in Vid1080 and make sure your device or external drive has enough headroom.
- 4K 30fps — approximately 1–2 GB per hour
- 4K 60fps — approximately 2–4 GB per hour
- 1080p 30fps — approximately 300–500 MB per hour
- 1080p 60fps — approximately 600 MB–1 GB per hour
- File size varies by codec: VP9 (WebM) is typically smaller than H.264 (MP4) at the same resolution
How to Download 4K Videos Free With Vid1080
- 1Open the video on YouTube, Vimeo, or any supported platform
- 2Copy the full video URL from the address bar
- 3Go to Vid1080 and paste the URL into the download box
- 4Wait a moment while Vid1080 fetches all available quality options
- 5Select "2160p" or "4K" from the quality dropdown
- 6Click the Download button and save the file to your device
When to Choose 1080p Instead of 4K
Downloading 4K is not always the right choice. If you plan to watch the video on a smartphone or tablet with a 1080p display, the extra resolution is wasted and only consumes storage. 1080p is also significantly faster to download on slower connections. Reserve 4K downloads for large-screen viewing, archival projects, or video editing where source quality matters. Vid1080 always shows 1080p as an option alongside 4K, so the choice is clear.
Internet Speed Requirements for 4K Downloads
A stable connection of at least 25 Mbps is recommended when downloading 4K video files. Faster connections — 50 Mbps or above — will complete downloads in minutes rather than tens of minutes for longer videos. Vid1080 is optimized to stream the file directly to your browser's download manager, so you don't need to keep the browser tab active the entire time on most modern browsers.