How to Convert DVD to H.265/HEVC Without Losing Quality

If you want to digitize your DVDs while keeping file sizes manageable, ripping DVD video to H.265 is a practical option. H.265 can provide similar visual quality at a smaller file size than older codecs such as H.264.

In this guide, we compare Tipard DVD Ripper, HandBrake, and MakeMKV and explain what each tool can and cannot do. If you also want to upscale an old DVD to a higher resolution, keep in mind that H.265 encoding and upscaling are separate processes. H.265 reduces file size efficiently; upscaling increases the output resolution.

Part 1. Comparison of DVD to H.265 Converter with Top 3 Tools

Tipard DVD Ripper is the best choice if you need to convert commercial or homemade DVDs directly to H.265. HandBrake is the best free option for compatible, unprotected DVD sources, while MakeMKV is better suited to creating lossless MKV backups before a separate H.265 encoding step.

Part 2. Rip All Types of DVDs to H.265 with Tipard DVD Ripper

In the world of converting DVDs to H.265, Tipard DVD Ripper is one of the most feature-rich and safe applications, which deals with all types of DVDs - commercial ones protected by codes like CSS, region locks, and homemade DVDs with personal or cinematographic value. Another advantage of Tipard is that it easily and quickly decodes DVDs and converts them to H.265, which gives up to 50% less size than when converting to an H.264 format, but the quality remains perfect.

It also implies that it is possible to effectively reduce the required storage space without compromising the picture quality, which makes it suitable for constructing an optimum digital video library. Additionally, editing tools and an option for hardware acceleration support make it capable of performing fast ripping on large DVD libraries.

Step 1 To download the Tipard app, click the download button we presented here. Then, install the app's package and click Start Now to launch it automatically.

Step 2 Now that the app is running on your system, click the Load DVD and select Load DVD Disc after you have inserted the DVD into your PC optical drive.

Step 3 Click the Output Format dropdown button to select a video format. You can see there's HEVC MP4 and HEVC MKV categories.

Step 4 After you have selected the H.265 format you want to achieve, click the Rip All button to save it digitally on your Windows or Mac computer.

Recommended H.265 Settings for DVD:

Part 3. Convert Homemade DVDs to H.265 with HandBrake

That is why those who seek free and efficient software for converting homemade DVDs to H.265 should pay attention to HandBrake. Being free and available for multiple platforms, HandBrake is a versatile tool to encode DVD material in modern formats such as H.265 or HEVC, which can halve the file size and retain excellent picture quality. Originally built to homemaded DVDs with no copy protection, it can play others when used with third-party libraries like HandBrake libdvdcss.

All these and more, HandBrake allows for customization of the final output in terms of bitrate, frame rate, and resolution, among others. While it would take some time for inexperienced and amateur users to fully understand how to work it, it is a leading option among advanced users looking for a versatile tool with remarkable performance. So, if you want to test how to convert DVD to H.265 with HandBrake, then the tutorial below is what you need.

Step 1 After installing the app, open it and load up your DVD file from the Open Source.

Step 2 Inside the Summary, choose the format you want to achieve and click Video. Here, click the Video Encoder to set the H.265 on the app.

Step 3 When you are done with that, click the Start button to start the converting process.

Part 4. Convert Your DVD Films to H.265 via MakeMKV

MakeMKV serves as the gold standard for the first step of a DVD to H.265 backup workflow. Unlike traditional re-encoders, MakeMKV excels at "remuxing"—extracting the raw video and audio streams from commercial or homemade DVDs without any quality loss. While it doesn't encode to H.265 directly within the app, it creates a 1:1 lossless MKV file that preserves all original subtitles, multiple audio tracks, and metadata, making it the perfect source file for high-efficiency HEVC/H.265 compression in secondary tools.

The standout feature of MakeMKV is its powerful decryption engine, which seamlessly bypasses protections like CSS, RC (Region Codes), and RCE. For users prioritizing archival quality, it is an indispensable tool for DVD backup. By using MakeMKV to strip protections first, you ensure a clean, error-free source that is fully optimized for subsequent H.265 encoding, balancing maximum compatibility with modern storage efficiency.

Step 1 Launch the software after installation. Insert your DVD into the optical drive, and the tool will automatically detect the disc in the Source section.

Step 2 Click the drive icon to scan the disc. Once the analysis is complete, select the specific Titles (usually the longest duration for the main movie) and audio tracks you wish to preserve.

Step 3 Set your output folder and click the Make MKV button. You will now have a lossless digital master ready to be compressed into a compact H.265 file.

Part 5. FAQs of Ripping DVD to H.265