A method and apparatus are disclosed and described for providing bit rate configuration for multi-view video coding. In the video encoder, the method includes encoding image data for at least one picture for at least two joint views of multi-view video content, the at least two joint views including a base view and at least one dependent view. The bit rate configuration for encoding the image data is determined to include an average bit rate and a maximum bit rate for the base view and the average bit rate and the maximum bit rate for the at least two joint views (235, 215, 220).