What Broadband Speed Do I Need?
Reviewed by Catherine Hiley
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Last updated: 16 January 2025
4 mins read
If you’re looking for broadband deals, it’s important to be clear on what speed you need. You don’t want a connection that’s too slow, but you also don’t want to pay for bandwidth you’re not using. Our bandwidth calculator is here to help. Pop in a few details and we’ll tell you roughly what broadband speed you need.
1. Input the info for your household.
- What are you doing online? Gaming, streaming or just checking your emails?
- How many devices will be connected to the internet? This includes laptops, smartphones, tablets and your TV.
2. Get your recommended speed.
Get a broadband speed recommendation based on what you’ve told us. This isn’t an infallible guide, but it should provide a helpful basis for comparing deals.
Tell us a bit about your internet usage
Bandwidth Calculator
Mbps
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Why find out your recommended broadband speed?
The speed of your broadband connection determines what you can do online and how easy (or frustrating) it is.
If it’s a few years since you last changed your broadband deal, you’ll find that there are now much faster speeds available to you. The flipside is that as technology improves, what we do online requires more internet capacity than ever before. Think HD video calls, streaming services and the rise of multiplayer games.
You need to find out the recommended broadband speed for your household in line with today’s technology and your current needs. Our calculator is probably the quickest way to do that. 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 [1], 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 upload speed and download speed?
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.
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 TIDAL, because these are download-only.
A good upload speed is 5Mbps or more.
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), images, videos and audio.
Technically, listening to music on Spotify or watching programmes on Disney Plus doesn’t count, because streaming services let you access the content live. So it isn’t downloaded to your device or stored there. But in real life, when we talk about “downloading” then we mean streaming too.
A good download speed is 25Mbps or more.
What Internet Speeds Do I Need?
Our bandwidth calculator will recommend the broadband speed for your needs.
You can browse the web but you’ll probably get lags when you try to watch videos online, and you might find picture-heavy websites are slower to load than ones with just text.
Either you live in one of the worst parts of the UK for broadband infrastructure or you’re well overdue a new broadband deal.
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 [4].
- 5Mbps+ as the minimum to get started
- 15Mbps+ for 1080p (high-definition video resolution)
- 38Mbps+ 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 45Mbps for streaming up to 3840x2160 at 120 FPS” [5]. (That’s 4K resolution and a very high frame rate.)
Tom’s Guide suggests 50-100Mbps for online multiplayer gaming.[6]
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.
For remote play on an XBox, Microsoft judges that an upload speed of 9Mbps is “optimal”.[7] The required minimum is 4.75Mbps and anything below that means that your network isn’t fast enough.
What broadband speed do I need to work from home?
The speeds you need for home working depend on what you’ll be doing in your WFH job. If you’re working in the cloud or routinely backing up files to the cloud, you will require a good upload speed as well as a fast download speed.
What are the minimum speeds for a Zoom call?
The official Zoom system requirements have a surprisingly low minimum bandwidth for their product: just 600kbps, or 0.6Mbps. But, as we’ll explain, in practice you need much more.
Zoom video quality explained
- Confusingly, the lowest possible video quality on Zoom is what they describe as “high-quality video”. This is the one that they say requires 600kbps.
- The next step up (medium quality) is 720p. This is the lowest resolution to be considered HD. Zoom says you need 1.2Mbps as your upload and download speeds for this.
- The best video quality on Zoom’s list is 1080p. This is the industry standard and often called “full HD”. Zoom says you’ll need 3.8Mbps upload and 3Mbps download speeds for this.[8]
We think the speeds in the Zoom system requirements are an optimistic bare minimum and you’d be better off with a faster connection. It’s hard not to do better; even the cheapest broadband deals on the old-style ADSL networks routinely deliver upwards of 10Mbps.
You should probably go for at least 20Mbps if:
- Your work involves regular video calls;
- You want to do group calls, screen-sharing or presenting webinars;
- You have other devices competing for bandwidth on the same connection;
- You don’t want lags or colleagues shouting “You’ve frozen!”
What broadband speed do I need for streaming?
When we say “streaming”, we mean using streaming media services like Netflix or Disney+. We’re not talking about it in the sense of broadcasting your own live video (like Twitch streaming).
The streaming we’re talking about - watching your favourite telly programmes on a subscription channel - is all about the download speeds. But the minimum speed you can get away with depends on the channel, so we’ve rounded up the recommended speeds for some of the most popular ones.
As ever, you’ll need to allow some headroom for other devices to use your home broadband at the same time. Unless you’re the sole user of your broadband connection and you definitely don’t want to google the actors while you’re watching.
What broadband speed do I need for Amazon Prime Video?
Amazon recommends a minimum download speed of 1Mbps for SD and 5Mbps for HD.[9]
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. The clever formula from BoxCast gives a bare minimum of 15Mbps, but we think you’d be better off with 25Mbps, so that’s what we’ve put in our table.
You can only stream Amazon Prime Video in 4K if you’re on a 4K-supported device. If you’re watching Amazon Prime on a normal laptop, you can still watch 4K content but it will be displayed at a lower resolution.
Should I get Amazon Prime Video?
An Amazon Prime subscription (£8.99 a month or £95 a year)[10] will give you free next-day delivery on all your Amazon purchases as well as access to Amazon Prime video.
Amazon Prime Video has a large number of popular dramas that are exclusive to the channel. Think Lord of the Rings spinoff drama Rings of Power or satirical superhero show The Boys. This is also the place to join the Good Omens or Outlander fandom.
What broadband speed do I need for Apple TV Plus?
Apple recommends a minimum of 25Mbps 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”.[11] We’ve put our own minimum recommended speeds in the table, but these aren’t sourced from Apple.
Should I get Apple TV Plus?
If you buy an Apple device like an iPhone, you get three months of Apple TV Plus included. Otherwise, a subscription is £8.99/month and there’s a seven-day free trial.[12]
Apple TV Plus is the home of The Morning Show, Carpool Karaoke and Shrinking.
What broadband speed do I need for BBC iPlayer?
BBC iPlayer recommends 1.5Mbps for standard quality streaming and 5Mbps for high quality.[13]
There is a growing selection of programmes available to watch in Ultra HD, and the BBC recommends a 24Mbps minimum connection for the full 3840p experience.[14] You’ll need a supported device to access BBC programmes in Ultra HD; if your telly is one of them, you’ll see a UHD icon on the relevant programmes.
Should I get BBC iPlayer?
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. The 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 5Mbps for HD content and 25Mbps for 4K UHD streaming. [15]
If you have a lower speed, it can impact your streaming quality. Make sure that you stream using one of the Disney+ supported devices.
Should I get Disney Plus?
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 recommends a connection speed of 10Mbps or more for stable streaming.[16] It doesn’t have HD.
Should I get ITVX?
ITVX is free to download and watch. You just need to register for an account.[17] 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.
To watch without the ads, you can sign up to ITVX Premium for £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year. [18]
What broadband speed do I need for Netflix?
Netflix recommends a minimum download speed of 3Mbps for “high definition” video - which is, confusingly enough, the lowest possible resolution available. They recommend 5Mbps for full high definition (FHD) and 15Mbps for 4K.[19]
Should I get Netflix?
The cheapest version of Netflix starts at £4.99, but you’ll have to put up with adverts. The cheapest advert-free plan is £10.99.
To watch Netflix on multiple different devices you’ll need the Premium plan at £17.99. This allows up to four people sharing a home to all stream their favourite shows at the same time.[20] 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 50Mbps.
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 watch sports 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 2.5Mbps for streaming at a basic resolution, 12Mbps for Boost (HD2) and 30Mbps for Ultra Boost, which is what it calls its 4K service.[21]
Should I get NOW TV?
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.) [22]
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?
TNT Sports doesn’t officially recommend a minimum speed. You can technically watch live sport with download speeds of below 5Mbps, but we’d recommend at least 10Mbps, and over 20Mbps if you’re watching in 4K.
Should I get TNT Sports?
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 - the full list is too long to share here.
You can get TNT Sports if you subscribe to the discovery+ Premium plan (not the Standard or Basic plans). Or buy it as an add-on to your TV bundle with Sky, BT, EE or Virgin Media.[23]
What broadband speed do I need for Youtube?
For watching YouTube videos in standard definition, Google recommends the surprisingly slow speed of 1.1Mbps. For HD it’s 2.5Mbps and 4K requires 20Mbps.[24]
Should I get YouTube?
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.[25]
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
If you’ve read this far, you should have a fairly clear idea of what broadband speed you need. You can use that info to narrow down the selection when you’re comparing broadband packages. For example, if your recommended broadband speed is 60Mbps, you can select the filter below to get a list of all the options for you.
We’ve got all the details you need.
[1] Tech Radar, The best broadband for gaming
[2] Ofcom, Full fibre broadband reaches nearly 7 in 10 homes
[3] Ofcom, UK home broadband performance
[4] Playstation, Getting started with Playstation Plus
[5] NVIDIA, System requirements for GeForce NOW
[6] Tom’s Guide, What internet speed is enough?
[7] Microsoft, Understanding your remote play setup test results
[8] Zoom support, Zoom system requirements: Windows, macOS, Linux
[9] Prime Video help, Issues with live streams on Prime Video
[10] Amazon, The Amazon Prime membership fee
[11] Apple support, Find movies with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos in the Apple TV app
[12] Apple, Apple TV Plus
[13] BBC, What internet speed do I need for playing programmes?
[14] BBC, Can I watch programmes in Ultra HD on my connected TV?
[15] Disney Plus, Internet speed recommendations
[16] ITVX Help, Why does my ITVX keep buffering?
[17] ITVX Help, How do I register for an account?
[18] ITVX Help, What is ITVX Premium?
[19] Netflix Help Center, Internet connection speed recommendations
[20] Netflix Help Center, Plans and pricing
[21] NOW TV FAQs
[22] NOW TV, Sports membership
[23] discovery+ Help Centre, How do I get TNT sports?
[24] Google Support, System requirements and supported devices for YouTube
[25] YouTube Premium