What Broadband Speed Do I Need?

Why find out your recommended broadband speed

Finding your recommended broadband speed is important, especially if you’re looking to switch to a new deal. It’ll ensure everyone in your household can do everything they want online without any lag, while also helping you avoid paying for unnecessarily fast, expensive packages.

If it’s a few years since you last changed your broadband deal, you’ll find much faster speeds available now. As technology improves, what we do online requires more internet capacity. Think HD video calls, streaming services and the rise of multiplayer games.

Our calculator is a quick and easy way to work out what speed is right for your household. Then you can pick your Goldilocks deal: not too slow but not too pricey.

Technically, when we talk about broadband speed we’re actually talking about two things:

• The network bandwidth (how much data it can carry).
• The data transfer speed (how fast it can actually upload and download the data).

It’s a measure of data over time, so we measure it in megabits per second, or Mbps.

How does our bandwidth calculator work?

We take the three main factors that influence how much broadband speed you need.

• Number of users. How many people live in your home and use the internet? The more users, the more bandwidth you’ll need for the same quality of experience.
• Typical online activities. What are you doing online? Gaming is one of the most bandwidth-hungry activities you can do online. But video calls, streaming and working in the cloud also require high internet speeds.
• Number of devices. This isn’t just about laptops or Xboxes. It also includes the other internet-enabled devices in your home. Do you have smart heating controls or security cameras linked to the web?

What is the difference between upload speeds and download speeds?

Your internet connection transfers data both to and from your computer. The internet speeds advertised with broadband deals almost always mean the download speed. But you should compare both when you’re choosing a provider.

It’s worth noting that a lot of broadband providers offer much slower upload speeds than download speeds. That’s because most people consume far more content than they share. But if upload speeds are especially important to you, there are a few plans that give you symmetrical upload and download speeds,such as business broadband deals and deals from Hey!Broadband.

Download speed

Download speed is how much data per second you can download from the internet to your device. Data includes text, like emails or webpages, as well as images, videos and audio.

When we talk about download speeds, we don’t just mean how quickly you can download something to save on your device. It refers to how quickly any data travels from the internet to your device, whether you save it on your device or not.

A good download speed for a lot of users is 100 Mbps.

Upload speed

Upload speed is how fast your computer sends information. On a small scale, that might be sending an email or posting a message on social media.

At the high-bandwidth end, you have activities like joining in video calls, streaming video of yourself or online gaming. Working in the cloud also requires a good upload speed.

Your upload speed doesn’t matter at all for using streaming services like Netflix or Spotify because these are download-only.

A good upload speed for everyday use is 10 Mbps or more.

How do I check my current broadband speed?

To check your current speed, use our broadband speed checker. To make sure you get an accurate reading, try to ensure you don’t have any other devices connected and close all your other tabs. It’s also a good idea to connect to your router using an ethernet cable.

What internet speeds do I need?

Our bandwidth calculator will recommend the broadband speed for your needs.

What is a good internet speed for gaming?

The internet speed you need depends on the type of gaming you’re doing. Here’s what PlayStation recommends:

• 5 Mbps+ as the minimum to get started.
• 15 Mbps+ for 1080p (high-definition video resolution).
• 38 Mbps+ for streaming games in 4K and/or HDR.

The higher the image quality and refresh rate, the more powerful a connection you’ll need. GeForce NOW Ultimate Membership requires “at least 45 Mbps for streaming up to 3840x2160 at 120 FPS” (that’s 4K resolution and a very high frame rate).

Tom’s Guide suggests 50-100 Mbps for online multiplayer gaming.

Upload speeds

As we’ve explained, when people talk about broadband speed, they usually mean download rates. But gaming is one of the activities where your upload speed definitely matters. Your upload speed determines how fast your actions reach the server, so slow upload rates could cause the lag that sometimes makes gaming a frustrating experience.

According to Xbox, the minimum download speed to play a game is 3 Mbps.

What broadband speed do I need to work from home?

If you work from home, we’d recommend opting for a broadband package with speeds of 50-100 Mbps. This should be enough to ensure buffer-free video calls, cloud app usage and file downloads.

It does depend on what you need to do, though. If you’re only doing basic tasks like checking emails and casual web browsing, you could get away with as little as 25 Mbps. But if you regularly need to transfer large files or you’re not the only person in your household who’s working remotely, you’d be better off with 100-200 Mbps or more to prevent slowdowns.

What are the minimum speeds for a Zoom call?

According to official Zoom system requirements, the minimum upload and download speeds you need for a Zoom call is 600 Kbps, or 0.6 Mbps. But that’s only for a 1:1 video call. If you want to join a group video call, the minimum speed you’ll need is 1 Mbps. And for high-quality 1080p calls, you’ll need at least 3.8 Mbps.

Of course, pretty much all broadband deals will offer much faster speeds than these. But for a smooth video call, we’d recommend at least 20 Mbps.

What broadband speed do I need for streaming?

For smooth streaming, you’ll need 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD per device. We’d recommend opting for at least 50 Mbps+ speeds for active households, or 100 Mbps+ if several of you like to stream 4K content on multiple devices at the same time.

If you’re a single user, you might be able to get away with 10-20 Mbps to stream HD content. But only if you’re not using any other devices at the time. So you wouldn’t be able to Google any of the actors while you’re watching or doomscroll during the ad breaks.

The broadband speeds needed for top streaming platforms and services

What broadband speed do I need for Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon recommends a minimum download speed of 1 Mbps for SD and 5 Mbps for HD. It’s a bit trickier to work out what you need to stream Amazon Prime in 4K because there’s no official recommendation from Amazon. We recommend 25 Mbps, which is what we’ve included in our table.

An Amazon Prime subscription costs £8.99 a month or £95 a year. And you get free next-day delivery on all your Amazon purchases, too.

Amazon Prime Video has a large number of popular dramas that are exclusive to the channel, such as the Lord of the Rings spinoff drama Rings of Power and the satirical superhero show The Boys. This is also the place to join the Good Omens or Outlander fandom, as well as Last One Laughing.

What broadband speed do I need for Apple TV Plus?

Apple recommends a minimum of 25 Mbps for streaming in 4K. For watching Apple TV Plus at lower resolutions, there is no recommended broadband speed, just “an internet connection fast enough to watch high-quality content”. We’ve included our own minimum recommended speeds of 2.5 Mbps in the table above, but these aren’t sourced from Apple.

If you buy an Apple device like an iPhone, you get three months of Apple TV Plus included. Otherwise, an Apple TV Plus subscription is £9.99 a month and there’s a seven-day free trial.

Apple TV Plus is the home of The Morning Show, Slow Horses and Shrinking. So there’s plenty of award-winning original content to enjoy.

What broadband speed do I need for BBC iPlayer?

BBC iPlayer recommends 1.5 Mbps for standard quality streaming and 5 Mbps for high quality. There is a growing selection of programmes available to watch in Ultra HD, and the BBC recommends a 24 Mbps minimum connection for the full 3840p experience.

BBC iPlayer is the default app for watching BBC content on catch-up. It’s free to download and use if you have a TV licence. iPlayer gives you access to the whole range of BBC television content, including Strictly Come Dancing, soaps like Eastenders and all the BBC’s live sport coverage.

What broadband speed do I need for Disney Plus?

Disney Plus requires a minimum speed of 5 Mbps for HD content and 25 Mbps for 4K UHD streaming. If you have a lower speed, it can impact your streaming quality.

With Disney Plus, you can watch the latest Disney films, like Inside Out 2 or Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. It’s also the channel for timeless Disney classics like Toy Story, The Little Mermaid or The Lion King. But it’s not just for animated content. Disney Plus is where you’ll find films set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and National Geographic nature shows.

What broadband speed do I need for ITVX?

ITVX doesn’t have any official speed recommendations. So we’d recommend speeds of at least 5 Mbps to stream.

ITVX is free to download and watch. You just need to register for an ITVX account. But you do need a TV licence to watch any of the available programmes. These include Downton Abbey, Vera and Midsomer Murders. ITVX is also the home of Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Learn more about when you need a TV licence.

To watch without the ads, you can sign up to ITVX Premium for £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year.

What broadband speed do I need for Netflix?

Netflix recommends a minimum download speed of 3 Mbps for high-definition video, which is, confusingly enough, the lowest possible resolution available. It recommends 5 Mbps for full high definition (FHD) and 15 Mbps for 4K.

The cheapest Netflix subscription starts at £5.99, but you’ll have to put up with adverts. The cheapest advert-free plan is £12.99, based on Netflix plan pricing.

To watch Netflix on multiple different devices you’ll need the Premium plan at £18.99. This allows up to four people sharing a home to all stream their favourite shows at the same time. This works out cheaper per person than separate individual memberships, but this kind of arrangement will definitely put a strain on your internet connection. We’d recommend that people with Netflix Premium go for at least 50 Mbps.

Netflix is the streaming service for Beef, The Crown, Sex Education, Stranger Things and Love is Blind.

You can watch movies like Knives Out, Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood, Paddington and all of the Harry Potter movies.

Sports fans can enjoy documentaries like Beckham, Tour de France and Formula 1: Drive to Survive.

What broadband speed do I need for NOW TV?

NOW TV recommends a minimum download speed of at least 2.5 Mbps for streaming at a basic resolution, 12 Mbps for Boost (HD2) and 30 Mbps for Ultra Boost, which is what it calls its 4K service.

NOW is Sky’s on-demand streaming service, where you can watch movies, TV shows and live sports.

Choose the basic Entertainment subscription or pay extra for Cinema or Sports. The Sports membership gives you access to all 12 Sky Sports channels. It’s also possible to buy a one-off day membership to the sports content. It’ll set you back £14.99, but might be worth it for the game of the season.

With NOW, you’ll be able to watch Game of Thrones, Succession, Law and Order and many more TV shows. Films include Knock at the Cabin, M3GAN, The Hunger Games and Babylon.

What broadband speed do I need for TNT Sports?

You can technically watch live sport with download speeds of below 5 Mbps, but we’d recommend at least 10 Mbps, and over 20 Mbps if you’re watching in 4K. TNT Sports doesn’t officially recommend a minimum speed.

TNT Sports is what used to be known as BT Sport and it has all the sport broadcasting rights that used to be held by BT. That includes Premier League football, the UEFA Champions League, premiership rugby, boxing and WWE wrestling.

You can get TNT Sports if you subscribe to the discovery+ Premium plan (not the Standard or Basic plans). Or you can buy it as an add-on to your TV bundle with Sky, BT, EE or Virgin Media.

What broadband speed do I need for YouTube?

For watching YouTube videos in standard definition, Google recommends 2.5 Mbps and 4K requires 20 Mbps.

You can download the YouTube app for free or just watch YouTube content in your web browser. For an ad-free experience, you can subscribe to YouTube Premium for £12.99 a month. This also lets you listen to YouTube Music offline.

YouTube also has a number of pay-to-watch primetime channels, like Paramount+ Global and History Play.

Find the best deals for your recommended broadband speed

Use our bandwidth calculator at the top of this page to find out what broadband speeds you need. You can then use that info to narrow down the selection when you’re comparing broadband packages. For example, if your recommended broadband speed is 60 Mbps, you can select the speed filter to get a list of options that fit.

Can I speed up my broadband without changing internet providers?

Yes, there are lots of things you can do to boost your broadband speed without switching providers:

• Restart your router: unplug it for 30 seconds before plugging it back in and switching it on again. Very often, this will solve the issue.
• Move your hub: make sure your router is in an open, central location, away from walls, electrical interference and windows.
• Use your ethernet cable: connect devices directly to your router via an ethernet cable for a smoother, faster connection.
• Try mesh or a Wi-Fi extender: if you have any areas in your home that don’t get decent speeds, try a Wi-Fi booster, extender or mesh to make sure your router can reach every corner.
• Update your equipment: if it’s been a while since you got a new router, contact your provider to see if you’re due an upgrade.
• Manage your devices: reduce the number of devices that are active simultaneously.
• Contact your provider: if all this fails, it’s time to get in touch with your provider.
• Complain about your provider: if you don’t get any help and you’re still in contract, here’s how to complain.

If you’re out of contract, it’s a great time to shop around for a better broadband deal. Or if you need more help, check out our guide on what to do about a slow internet connection.

How to easily switch to a faster broadband connection

If you want to switch to a faster broadband plan, use a comparison site like ours to compare deals from a huge range of providers.

If you want a faster package than you’re currently on, find out what your current broadband speed is using our speed checker. Then head to our broadband deals page and enter your postcode and current provider to find deals that are available where you are. You can use our filters and sorting options to make sure you only see deals that are faster than your current speed.

Once you’ve found a deal you like, follow the sign-up instructions and wait for your new router to arrive. Thanks to One Touch Switch, your new provider will notify your old provider and end your contract for you.

Be aware that if you’re still in the minimum term of your contract with your current provider, you’ll almost certainly have to pay an early exit fee, which will likely cover the bulk of the cost of the rest of your contract. But if you still want to leave, you might be able to find a new provider that’ll offer you something towards your early exit fee.

FAQs

What counts as fast broadband in the UK?

According to Ofcom, superfast broadband has an average download speed of 30 Mbps or more. Ultrafast broadband is ten times as fast, with speeds of 300 Mbps or higher. But it depends on your usage. If you live on your own or with one other person and you just use the internet to stream TV and browse online, 30 Mbps should be fast enough. But if you live in a busy household with several online gamers or people who work from home, you might need ultrafast speeds.

How accurate are broadband speeds?

Using a broadband speed checker is an accurate way to find out how fast your internet is. This may be different from the speeds you signed up for. According to Ofcom’s Codes of Practice, the speeds advertised by a broadband provider must be the average speed that at least 50% of its customers receive during the network’s busiest time, which is 8-10pm.

Of course, this means there’s a good chance you won’t get the speeds advertised by your broadband provider during peak times. Your speed could be hampered by many factors, including the distance to your router, the quality of your Wi-Fi and the number of other devices you have connected.

For tips and tricks, read our guide on what to do if you have a slow internet connection.

Do I need gigabit broadband?

Most households don’t need gigabit broadband. 1 Gbps speeds are targeted at large households with at least five heavy internet users. So it’s only really worth it if people in your house are into competitive online gaming, frequent large file transfers and streaming 4K content.

Gigabit broadband tends to be a lot more expensive. And our research shows that around a third of broadband customers are overpaying for faster speeds than they need. For general browsing, streaming and home working, a 100-200 Mbps connection should be more than enough.

Why is my broadband connection slower in the evenings?

Broadband can be slower in the evenings because of network congestion during peak hours. This is when there are too many users in your local area accessing the network at once, which can overload the bandwidth. To maximise your speeds, make sure your router is placed in an open, central location and use an ethernet cable to connect your device to your router.

How do I check if full fibre broadband is available in my area?

To find out what’s available in your area, head to our broadband deals page and enter your postcode and current provider. If you can get full fibre where you live, you’ll be able to use our filters to see full fibre packages.