Free tool
How Much Internet Speed Do I Need? Calculator
Add up your household’s video calls, streaming, gaming and uploads and see the download and upload speed you need, compared with the the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband benchmark of 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up.
This free tool adds the download and upload speed your household needs from the calls, streams, games and uploads happening at the same time, then compares the total with the FCC broadband benchmark of 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. Use it before you change your plan or your router.
What it does
Adds the download and upload speed your household needs from the calls, streams, games and uploads happening at once.
Who it helps
Anyone with video calls that freeze, or choosing an internet plan for working from home.
How to use it
- Set how many people are online at your busiest hour.
- Add calls, streams, gaming and uploads.
- Read the download and upload needed.
- Compare with your plan and a speed test.
People online at the same time
Browsing and email: about 1 Mbps down per person (FCC broadband speed guide).
Video calls at the same time
Zoom lists 3.0 Mbps up and 2.5 Mbps down for 1080p group calls (Zoom system requirements).
HD streams at the same time
Netflix recommends 5 Mbps per HD stream.
4K streams at the same time
Netflix recommends 15 Mbps per 4K stream.
People gaming online
FCC speed guide: about 3 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up per player.
Large cloud uploads or backups running
Allowance of 10 Mbps up per active upload (estimate).
Recommended plan
A 100 / 20 Mbps plan, the FCC broadband benchmark, covers this household with room to spare. Test from your desk, not next to the router.
Sources: FCC broadband benchmark 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up (March 2024); Zoom system requirements; Netflix internet connection speed recommendations; FCC broadband speed guide. Upload matters most for calls.
What your result means
- Upload is the number that matters for video calls. Many cable plans give only 10 to 20 Mbps up.
- Need under 100/20 Mbps: a plan at the FCC benchmark is enough. Above it: look at fiber or a faster cable tier.
- Fast plan but slow calls: the router or WiFi is the bottleneck. Read the guide
- Test speed at your desk, not next to the router. Read the guide
How it works
The calculator adds published per-activity figures: Zoom lists 3.0 Mbps up and 2.5 Mbps down for 1080p group calls; Netflix recommends 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K; the FCC broadband speed guide lists about 3 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up for online gaming and about 1 Mbps for general browsing and email. Cloud uploads get a 10 Mbps allowance each (an assumption, labeled estimate). It then adds 50% headroom for WiFi and peak-hour losses (also an estimate) and compares the total with the FCC benchmark of 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up (March 2024). Check each figure against the provider’s current page before relying on it.
Sources
- FCC, 2024 Section 706 Report: broadband benchmark 100/20 Mbps
- FCC, Broadband Speed Guide (per-activity speeds)
- Zoom, system requirements for Windows, macOS and Linux (1080p group video)
- Netflix Help Center, internet connection speed recommendations
Figures are published by the sources named above; re-check them before each update of this page.
FAQ
Why does upload matter so much?
Every video call sends your picture and sound up. Cable plans often give 10 to 20 Mbps up, which two simultaneous calls plus a backup can exhaust.
Is 100 Mbps enough for working from home?
For most households, yes, if the upload is 20 Mbps or more and the WiFi reaches your desk. Test from the desk.
My plan is fast but calls still freeze. Why?
The problem is usually WiFi, not the plan. Move closer to the router, use the 5 GHz band or plug in with Ethernet. See the Tech Fixes page.