Browse Tools Top 100
MTS MKV
File conversion

Convert MTS to MKV

Convert now
Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 9, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
Is it possible to convert MTS to MKV?
Yes - MTS converts to MKV.

You can do it right here with our free converter - no sign-up, and your file is deleted right after.

The fastest path is remuxing with MKVToolNix or ffmpeg -c copy, which copies video and audio into MKV without touching the pixels. The main caveat: if your camera recorded 1080i interlaced footage, the interlacing stays in the file unless you re-encode with a deinterlace filter.

8 programs
Also to MKV: USM · TP · MPEG4

On this page

Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Sep 2026

More free converters

HEIC, PNG, WEBP, MP3 and more - every tool here is free.

Open the toolbox
MTS → MKV converterFREE
Drop a .MTS file here
or pick one - we convert it to .MKV and give you the file to download

Why convert MTS to MKV?

MKV is a solid archive container that supports multiple audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, and attachments in one file. Media servers like Plex, Jellyfin, and Kodi often handle .MKV better than raw AVCHD transport streams. MKV also accepts AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio natively, so the original audio track copies over unchanged without conversion.

How to convert MTS to MKV

MKVToolNix FREE

Drag your .mts into MKVToolNix GUI and click Start multiplexing - it remuxes streams losslessly in seconds with no re-encoding. Free on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Command line - FFmpeg CLI

Run ffmpeg -i input.mts -c copy output.mkv to remux all streams without re-encoding.

HandBrake FREE

Open your .mts in HandBrake, pick a Matroska preset, and click Start Encode to re-encode with full control over quality, resolution, and filters.

Programs that convert MTS

HandBrake
Aimersoft iTransfer for Windows
Free Studio
Freemake Video Converter
ImTOO DPG Converter
MediaCoder
WinX Video Converter
Aimersoft iTransfer for Mac

About these formats

.MTS AVCHD Video (MPEG-2 Transport Stream)

An MTS file is HD video recorded by an AVCHD camcorder - Sony, Panasonic, Canon or JVC. The free VLC media player opens it on Windows, macOS and Linux with no extra codecs. To share or edit…

Open .MTS details →
.MKV Matroska Video

An MKV file is a Matroska multimedia container that holds video, multiple audio tracks, subtitles and chapters in one file. Open it for free with VLC media player, or on Windows 11 with the…

Open .MKV details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Remuxing copies streams bit-for-bit; the .mkv may be a few MB larger than the source .mts due to Matroska container overhead, but video quality is identical.
  • AVCHD cameras often record 1080i interlaced footage; remuxing preserves the interlacing - enable the Decomb filter in HandBrake if playback looks combed.
  • Long AVCHD recordings split across multiple .mts files; join them with FFmpeg's concat protocol or import the full AVCHD folder into an editor before exporting.

Frequently asked questions

Is converting MTS to MKV lossless?
Yes, when remuxing with MKVToolNix or ffmpeg -c copy - the video and audio data is copied unchanged, so there is no quality loss at all.
Can I keep the original AC-3 audio in the MKV?
Yes. MKV supports AC-3 (Dolby Digital) natively, so the audio stream copies over unchanged during a remux. Only re-encoding in HandBrake will convert it to AAC by default.
Why is the MKV slightly larger than the original MTS?
Matroska adds its own index tables and metadata blocks as container overhead. The difference is typically only a few MB and does not affect playback quality.
My recording is split across several .mts files - can I merge them?
Yes. Use FFmpeg's concat protocol (-i "concat:00001.mts|00002.mts") or import the full AVCHD folder into an editor like DaVinci Resolve and export a single MKV.