A control method for an encoding apparatus which performs bit rate control includes an acquiring step of acquiring a first quantization parameter as a quantization parameter to be used for quantizing a rate control unit, a first calculating step of calculating an evaluation value from a preset rate and a rate of an actually encoded rate control unit, a first setting step of, if the evaluation value is within a predetermined range, setting the first quantization parameter acquired by the acquiring step as a quantization parameter to be used for quantizing a rate control unit, and a second setting step of, if the evaluation value is not within the predetermined range, setting a second quantization parameter on the basis of the calculated evaluation value as a quantization parameter to be used for quantizing a rate control unit.