What broadband speed do I need? (UK guide)
How much speed common activities use
| Activity | Approx. speed per device |
|---|---|
| Web browsing, email, social media | 1–5Mbps |
| HD streaming (Netflix, iPlayer) | 5–8Mbps |
| 4K / Ultra HD streaming | 15–25Mbps |
| Video calls (Teams, Zoom) in HD | 3–4Mbps down and up |
| Online gaming (playing) | 3–6Mbps, but low latency matters more |
| Downloading a 100GB game | About 15 minutes at 900Mbps, 3 hours at 80Mbps |
Add it up for the busiest hour
Think about the evening peak, when everyone is online at once. Two 4K streams (50Mbps), a video call (4Mbps), a games console update and a few phones easily reach 100Mbps. Then leave headroom: WiFi typically delivers 30–60% of your line speed to devices away from the router.
Rules of thumb
- 1–2 people, light use: 30–80Mbps
- 3–4 people, streaming and home working: 150–300Mbps
- 5+ people, gamers, creators, large homes: 500Mbps–1Gbps
- Home business or heavy uploads: look for high upload speeds, ideally symmetrical
Don't forget upload speed
Upload is what you send: video calls, cloud backups, posting videos. FTTC uploads top out around 20Mbps; full fibre often gives 50–100Mbps or more, and symmetrical packages match upload to download. See our upload speed guide.
Speed isn't the same as WiFi coverage
If it's fast next to the router but slow upstairs, a faster package won't fix it. Better router placement or mesh WiFi will.
Cooper asks about your home, devices and how you use the internet, then recommends a speed and shows only packages your line is predicted to support.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 100Mbps fast enough for a family?
For most families of three or four, yes. 100Mbps handles several HD or 4K streams and video calls at once. Very heavy gaming households or frequent large downloads benefit from 300Mbps or more.
Is 900Mbps worth it?
It's worth it if you have lots of simultaneous users, download big games or files often, or work with large uploads. Many devices on WiFi can't reach 900Mbps individually, but the household as a whole benefits.
What speed do I need for working from home?
At least 30Mbps download and 5–10Mbps upload per person working from home. Full fibre is the best choice for reliable video calls.
What is the minimum broadband speed I'm entitled to?
Under the Universal Service Obligation you can request a connection of at least 10Mbps download and 1Mbps upload, provided the build cost is below the threshold set by the government.