How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?
The bottom line: most households need Internet speeds of at least 25 Mbps download to enjoy activities like streaming video on multiple devices. How much Internet speed you need depends on a variety of factors, from how many people are sharing the WiFi to how much Netflix you watch.
In this article, we’ll walk through how Internet speed is measured, and what approximate range different types of customers should consider.
How Much Speed Do I Really Need?
Here are some general download speed requirements based on everyday online activities:
- Check email and browse the web: 1-5 Mbps minimum
- Stream HD content: 15-25 Mbps minimum
- Stream 4K content and play competitive online games: 40-100 Mbps minimum
- Stream 4K content, play online games, and download very large files: 200+ Mbps minimum
| Internet download speed | Works for | Ideal number of Wi-Fi users |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5Mbps | -Checking email -Streaming music on one device -Searching on Google |
1–2 people |
| 5–40Mbps | -Streaming video on one device -Video conferencing with Skype or FaceTime -Online gaming for one player |
3–4 people |
| 40–100Mbps | -Streaming HD video on a few devices -Multiplayer online gaming -Downloading large files |
5–7 people |
| 100–500Mbps | -Streaming video in UHD on multiple screens -Downloading files quickly -Gaming online for multiple players |
8–10 people |
| 500–1,000+Mbps | -Doing a lot of almost anything on numerous devices simultaneously | More than 10 people |
