SHOUTcast Bandwidth and Listener Limits Explained
SHOUTcast bandwidth and listener limits determine how many people can listen to your stream at the same time and how much data your station uses every month. Understanding these two factors helps you choose the right hosting plan and prevents stream dropouts or overage fees.
This guide explains how SHOUTcast bandwidth works, how listener capacity is calculated, and how to pick the right plan based on your bitrate and audience size.
Table of contents
- What Is Bandwidth in SHOUTcast Streaming
- How Listener Limits Work
- How to Calculate SHOUTcast Bandwidth
- How ShoutCheap Plans Handle Bandwidth
- Real Examples Using 32, 64, 96, 128, and 256 kbps
- Should You Choose a High Bitrate or More Listeners
- What Happens If You Hit Your Listener Limit
- How To Choose the Right SHOUTcast Plan
- Related Reading
- FAQ
If you are new to SHOUTcast, start with our main guide, Everything You Need To Know About SHOUTcast Radio.
What Is Bandwidth in SHOUTcast Streaming
Bandwidth is the amount of data that your SHOUTcast stream uses when listeners tune in. The higher your bitrate and the more listeners you have, the more bandwidth your station consumes.
Every listener receives a continuous stream from your server. This means:
- More listeners equals more total bandwidth
- Higher bitrates consume more data per listener
- Your hosting plan must match your expected audience size
How Listener Limits Work
Your SHOUTcast plan includes a maximum number of concurrent listeners. This is the number of people who can listen at the same time. When that limit is reached, new listeners will receive a connection error.
Listener limits protect your server from being overloaded and help you choose a plan that fits your audience.
How to Calculate SHOUTcast Bandwidth
The formula for SHOUTcast bandwidth is simple:
Bitrate x Listeners x Hours = Total Data Used
Example:
- Bitrate, 128 kbps
- Listeners, 50
- Hours streamed per day, 24
Daily usage calculation:
128 kbps x 50 listeners = 6400 kbps, which is about 6.4 Mbps
6.4 Mbps x 3600 seconds x 24 hours = about 69 GB per day
This is why stations with many listeners or high bitrates need strong bandwidth capacity.
How ShoutCheap Plans Handle Bandwidth
All SHOUTcast hosting plans at ShoutCheap include large bandwidth allocations and dedicated resources that scale with your chosen bitrate and listener capacity. With our plans you choose both the audio quality and the number of listeners your station supports.
ShoutCheap SHOUTcast Plans Are Sized by Bitrate and Listener Count
Each plan includes a fixed listener limit and a fixed bitrate so you always know exactly what your stream can handle. No surprise bandwidth charges and no throttling.
Real Examples Using 32, 64, 96, 128, and 256 kbps
Here are practical examples based on common bitrates offered in ShoutCheap plans.
Example 1, 32 kbps stream with 100 listeners
- Low bitrate
- Perfect for talk and sermon stations
- Very efficient bandwidth usage
32 kbps x 100 listeners = 3200 kbps, about 3.2 Mbps while streaming.
Example 2, 64 kbps stream with 150 listeners
- Still mobile-friendly
- Good for mixed content
64 kbps x 150 listeners = 9600 kbps, about 9.6 Mbps.
Example 3, 96 kbps stream with 200 listeners
96 kbps x 200 listeners = 19200 kbps, about 19.2 Mbps.
Great balance between music clarity and bandwidth cost.
Example 4, 128 kbps stream with 300 listeners
128 kbps x 300 listeners = 38400 kbps, about 38 Mbps.
This is the standard FM-like quality most stations use.
Example 5, 256 kbps stream with 100 listeners
256 kbps x 100 listeners = 25600 kbps, about 25.6 Mbps.
Very high quality, used for premium stations with strong bandwidth availability.
Should You Choose a High Bitrate or More Listeners
The choice depends on your station goals:
- Talk stations should focus on more listeners at lower bitrates
- Music stations should balance bitrate and listener limits
- Premium music stations may choose higher bitrates with fewer listeners
For example, a talk station often gets better results with 32 or 64 kbps and a larger listener limit, while music stations benefit from 96 or 128 kbps for cleaner sound.
What Happens If You Hit Your Listener Limit
When your listener limit is reached, new listeners will not be able to connect. Your station does not go down, but new sessions will fail until someone disconnects.
If you grow beyond your plan limits, you can upgrade instantly inside your ShoutCheap dashboard.
How To Choose the Right SHOUTcast Plan
To choose the best SHOUTcast plan, you need to consider:
- Your station type, talk or music
- Your expected number of listeners
- Your chosen bitrate for audio quality
- Your need for AutoDJ and 24-hour uptime
If you need help choosing the right plan, ShoutCheap can guide you based on your audience size and audio quality goals.
Related Reading
FAQ
SHOUTcast bandwidth is the amount of data used when listeners tune in. Higher bitrates and more listeners increase total bandwidth consumption.
You can estimate usage with the formula Bitrate x Listeners x Hours. This helps predict monthly data consumption and plan upgrades.
Your stream stays online, but new listeners will not be able to connect. Upgrading your plan increases the number of concurrent listeners allowed.
Yes, higher bitrates use more data per listener. Talk stations can use lower bitrates, while music stations often choose 96 or 128 kbps for better quality.
Talk stations can use 32 or 64 kbps, while music stations perform best at 96 or 128 kbps. Premium stations may use 256 kbps for very high quality.
