HDR10: The Baseline HDR Format Explained

What is HDR10?

HDR10 is a high dynamic range (HDR) format that defines how a display should interpret HDR video signals. It was created to provide a shared baseline for HDR content across TVs, monitors, consoles, and PCs. Unlike proprietary or more advanced formats that may require special hardware or licensing, HDR10 is an open standard, which is why it has become the default HDR mode for most displays and sources.

HDR10 uses static metadata to convey the intended brightness and color values to the display. The metadata is encoded once for the entire video, and it tells the display the maximum luminance (in nits) and the color gamut of the content. This allows the display to map the signal correctly to its own capabilities, so you see deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and richer colors than standard dynamic range (SDR) content.

If you have ever connected a modern monitor to a Windows PC and turned on HDR in the display settings, you were most likely using HDR10. Microsoft's documentation describes HDR10-capable displays as offering a brighter, more vibrant, and more detailed picture compared to standard dynamic range, when used with a PC that supports HDR and wide color gamut.

Because HDR10 is so widely supported, it is often the entry point for HDR. For a quick comparison of HDR10 with more advanced formats, refer to our article on HDR10 vs Dolby Vision.

How HDR10 works: static metadata and transfer functions

HDR10 is built on three key technical foundations: the SMPTE ST 2084 transfer function (also known as PQ), a wide color gamut defined by the DCI-P3 color space, and 10-bit color depth. The transfer function determines how the digital signal maps to luminance levels, and it is the reason HDR can display a much wider range of brightness than SDR.

The static metadata in HDR10 includes the MaxCLL (maximum content light level) and MaxFALL (maximum frame-average light level) values. These are sent once at the start of the video and tell the display the brightest bright points and the overall brightness of the title. The display then uses this information to tone map the content to its own peak and sustained luminance levels.

Because HDR10 uses static metadata, it cannot adjust on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis. This is the main limitation compared to dynamic metadata formats like Dolby Vision or HDR10+, which can update the mapping information continuously. However, HDR10 remains the most compatible format and is the required baseline for all HDR content in most streaming services, 4K Blu-ray discs, and modern gaming consoles.

HDR10 color and brightness: wider gamut and higher peak luminance

The visual benefits of HDR10 come from two main areas: a wider range of luminance values (from deeper blacks to brighter whites) and a wider color gamut. Standard dynamic range (SDR) content is typically mastered to the sRGB or BT.709 color spaces, which, as Microsoft notes, represent a relatively small portion of human-perceivable colors. HDR10 content is usually mastered to the DCI-P3 color space, which covers a significantly larger portion of the human visual spectrum.

The exact brightness and color capabilities of an HDR10 display are not defined by the format itself; they depend on the panel and the backlight. The VESA DisplayHDR certification program sets minimum performance levels for brightness, black level, color gamut, and bit depth across several tiers. For example, the DisplayHDR 400 tier requires a minimum luminance of 400 cd/m² on an 8% center patch, while higher tiers such as 600 or 1000 require progressively higher luminance and better black levels. Every DisplayHDR tier also requires a minimum of 90% DCI-P3 coverage (or 95% for the highest tiers), which is what makes HDR content appear more vivid.

The bit depth also matters. HDR10 is defined as 10-bit color per channel, which allows for 1,024 shades of each primary color (red, green, blue), for over a billion colors in total. This precision is high enough to avoid visible color banding, as the human eye requires at least 10 to 12 bits to avoid perceivable distortions, according to Microsoft's documentation.

HDR10 monitors: what to look for

Not all monitors that claim HDR10 support deliver the same experience. The HDR10 logo simply means the display can accept an HDR10 signal; it does not guarantee that the display is bright enough or has a wide enough color gamut to show HDR content as intended. This is why VESA created the DisplayHDR certification program, which tests and certifies monitors for specific performance levels.

When choosing a monitor for HDR10 content, look for a DisplayHDR certified display. The certification tiers range from DisplayHDR 400 (entry level) to DisplayHDR 1000 and DisplayHDR 1400 for high-end professional and gaming monitors. Higher tiers require higher peak luminance, better black levels, and wider color gamut coverage, so they are more suitable for HDR gaming and HDR video editing.

For HDR gaming, you also want a monitor with a high refresh rate and variable refresh rate (VRR) support. NVIDIA's G-SYNC, for example, includes a G-SYNC ULTIMATE tier that combines HDR support with high refresh rates and low latency, delivering what NVIDIA describes as ultimate HDR, stunning contrast, and cinematic color. HDMI 2.1 also supports VRR, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and other gaming features that pair well with HDR10. See our best gaming monitors for models that combine HDR10 and high refresh rates.

If you are on a budget, consider our budget monitors, which includes some HDR10-capable models, or higher-tier options for more premium choices. For those who prefer OLED panels, which excel at black levels, our best OLED monitors guide lists options with HDR10 support.

HDR10 vs HDR10+ and Dolby Vision

HDR10 is the baseline, but it is not the only HDR format you will encounter. The two main alternatives are HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, both of which use dynamic metadata instead of static metadata. Dynamic metadata allows the display to adjust the HDR mapping on a scene-by-scene or even frame-by-frame basis, which can improve the accuracy of bright highlights and dark scenes in content that was mastered with a very wide dynamic range.

HDR10+ is, as the name suggests, a direct evolution of HDR10 developed by Samsung. It is also royalty-free, which makes it an attractive option for content producers. Dolby Vision is a more comprehensive format that defines its own mastering standards and requires a licensing fee. Both formats are backward compatible: a device that only supports HDR10 can still play HDR10+ or Dolby Vision content, but it will use the static metadata (the HDR10 base layer) instead of the dynamic metadata.

The practical difference between HDR10 and dynamic metadata formats is often subtle on consumer displays, especially on bright modern panels. Many Windows users report that Dolby Vision mode can limit peak brightness on some certified monitors, which is why Windows allows you to disable Dolby Vision and fall back to HDR10 mode, as Microsoft notes. For a more detailed comparison, read HDR10 vs Dolby Vision.

HDR10 on Windows: setup and requirements

On Windows 11, HDR10 is the default HDR format for displays that are not certified for Dolby Vision. To use HDR10, you need an HDR10-capable display, a GPU that supports HDR output, and a cable that can carry the HDR signal. HDMI 2.0 or higher is sufficient for 4K HDR10 at 60 Hz; for higher refresh rates at 4K or 8K HDR, you should use HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.1, which provide much higher bandwidth.

Windows 11 includes built-in HDR settings and a HDR calibration app that allows you to adjust the peak brightness and color saturation for your specific display. Microsoft's troubleshooting guidance recommends selecting the HDR-capable display at the top of the display settings page, turning on HDR, and checking the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) to confirm that the display supports HDR10. For battery-powered laptops, Windows may automatically turn off HDR to save power unless you explicitly enable it in the HDR settings.

Keep in mind that HDR10 is a signal format; the display manufacturer decides how bright the backlight goes and how wide the color gamut is. A monitor that is DisplayHDR 400 certified is not going to look as impressive as a DisplayHDR 1000 model, even though both can accept an HDR10 signal. If you are serious about HDR, invest in a higher-tier certified display.

How to choose an HDR10 monitor

When you are shopping for a monitor with HDR10, the most important specification is not the HDR10 logo itself; it is the certification level, color gamut coverage, and peak brightness. A monitor with 90% DCI-P3 coverage and a DisplayHDR 600 certification will look noticeably better than a DisplayHDR 400 monitor, even though both are HDR10-capable.

For office and home use, where HDR content is not the primary activity, a DisplayHDR 400 or 500 display is often sufficient. These monitors are also more affordable and sometimes offer better connectivity options. If you do video editing, photo editing, or HDR gaming, a higher-tier DisplayHDR 600 or DisplayHDR 1000 monitor is recommended, as these displays meet the color gamut and black level requirements needed for accurate HDR grading and a convincing HDR gaming experience.

Below is a quick summary of what to look for, depending on your use case:

What to pick for your use

Questions

Is HDR10 the same as HDR?

No. HDR is a general term for high dynamic range technology. HDR10 is a specific, widely used HDR format with static metadata. Most HDR content and displays use HDR10 as the baseline. Other formats exist, such as HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, which use dynamic metadata for improved scene-by-scene adjustment.

Does HDR10 require a special HDMI cable?

For 4K HDR10 at 60 Hz, a High Speed HDMI cable with 18 Gbps bandwidth is sufficient. For 4K HDR10 at 120 Hz or 8K HDR, you need an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, which carries up to 48 Gbps. HDMI 2.1 also supports Dynamic HDR, VRR, and other gaming features.

What is the difference between HDR10 and HDR10+?

HDR10 uses static metadata, which is fixed for the entire video. HDR10+ uses dynamic metadata that can change on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis, allowing more accurate tone mapping for bright and dark scenes. HDR10+ is backward compatible with HDR10 devices.

Can a monitor with HDR10 show SDR content?

Yes. SDR content will normally be displayed in SDR mode. When you turn on HDR in Windows, the operating system can handle both SDR and HDR content, using tone mapping to show SDR windows correctly on an HDR display. Some monitors also have SDR-to-HDR conversion modes, although those are not recommended for color-accurate work.

What does DisplayHDR 400 mean for HDR10?

DisplayHDR 400 is the entry-level VESA DisplayHDR certification. It requires a minimum of 400 cd/m² luminance on a small patch, 8-bit color with 2-bit dithering, and at least 90% DCI-P3 color coverage. It is the minimum tier for a display to be considered HDR-capable, but higher tiers like DisplayHDR 600 or 1000 offer significantly better HDR performance.

Should I buy a monitor with HDR10 or Dolby Vision?

HDR10 is the safer choice for a PC monitor, because it is more widely supported by games and operating systems. Dolby Vision is more common on televisions and some video streaming apps. If Dolby Vision is important to you, make sure the monitor is certified for it; otherwise, HDR10 will still play all HDR content, though without dynamic metadata.

How can I check if my monitor supports HDR10?

On Windows 11, you can open Settings, then System, then Display, and look at the HDR section. Microsoft also recommends using DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag) to check the Advanced Color settings. If you see 'HDR Supported' under Monitor Capabilities, your display supports HDR10.