Select H.265 (x265) . It is highly recommended to use 10-bit x265 to prevent color banding, even though the output is SDR [3]. Framerate (FPS): Choose "Same as source."
HandBrake solves this by reading the HDR metadata and dynamically compressing the color and brightness ranges into the SDR spectrum. This ensures the video looks natural on any standard display. Step-by-Step HandBrake Settings for HDR to SDR
How to Convert HDR to SDR with Handbrake: A Complete Guide (2026) convert hdr to sdr handbrake
To fix the colors, you need to enable the filter: Go to the Filters tab. Find the Colorspace dropdown. Select BT.709 .
(Optional)
At the bottom of the interface, click to choose where to save your newly converted SDR file. Give the file a clear name (e.g., movie_sdr.mp4 ). Click the green Start Encode button at the top toolbar. Understanding HandBrake's Tone Mapping Algorithms
This is the most important part of the conversion. Without it, your video will still look washed out. Navigate to the tab. Locate the Color Space dropdown menu. Select H
: Select H.264 (Intel QuickSync) or H.265 (Intel QuickSync) . AMD Users : Select H.264 (AMD VCE) or H.265 (AMD VCE) .
SDR files are often easier to compress and stream. This ensures the video looks natural on any standard display
Go to the tab if you need to burn in or pass through subtitles from a Blu-ray rip or external SRT file. Step 6: Select Destination and Encode