For example, a wireless communication station (STA) may be configured to determine a selected setting of one or more rate-dependent parameters for transmission of a Physical layer (PHY) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) based on a minimal Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) size requirement such that, for at least one MPDU of the PPDU, a first count of MAC padding bits to pad the MPDU according to the selected setting of the one or more rate-dependent parameters is less than a second count of MAC padding bits to pad the MPDU according to a channel-based setting of the one or more rate-dependent parameters, wherein, the channel-based setting of the one or more rate-dependent parameters is based on a condition of a wireless communication channel for transmission of the PPDU; and to transmit the PPDU according to a transmission data rate based on the selected setting.