How Many Mbps Do I Need for Streaming?
Netflix recommends at least a 5 Mbps download speed for standard HD video, and a 25 Mbps download speed for 4K content.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that these numbers refer to what the service on its own needs — not the total speed of your Internet plan.
For instance, say you have a 20 Mbps down connection speed. If the total capacity of your Internet 
connection is a pie, you can imagine that every user on the network (and all of their various devices) each get a “slice” of that pie. Essentially, your total potential speed is split across all of the devices connected to the network, so that 20 Mbps may only be providing 10-15 Mbps to Netflix itself, preventing you from streaming 4K content smoothly.
Also, using WiFi will always be slower than a hardwired connection. Trying to stream over WiFi can produce less-than-stellar results.
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you’re maximizing your chances of a trouble-free streaming experience:
- Connect your streaming devices to the router with an ethernet cable whenever possible. Call HCS to help 618-654-1519
- When streaming over WiFi, position the streaming device as close to the router as possible, with no physical barriers like walls or furniture between them. This will help you achieve a more stable connection.
Use this bandwidth calculator to get an estimate of the speed you actually need to stream on multiple devices at home.
