Activity-Based Internet Speed Requirements
How much internet speed do you really need? To answer this question effectively, you need to explore all of your different activities. If your activities are relatively light, you might be paying too much for your service.
This article covers common internet uses and how internet speed impacts them, including online gaming, streaming, video conferencing, and file downloads. You'll also learn more about what it means to have high-speed internet.
What Internet Speed Do You Need for Gaming?
Gaming has two needs when it comes to internet speed: playing online with others and downloading large files. As a result, the speed you need generally varies between 100 and 500 Mbps (megabytes per second). This speed is good enough to download most games and updates quickly. The higher end of these speeds also handles some of the more demanding aspects of playing online.
When playing online with others, the speed you need depends on whether the game has a dedicated server. A dedicated server means that the game company handles most of the load, so you're just communicating with their servers. If the game doesn't have a dedicated server, you might have to host the game. Game hosting requires a strong internet connection for outside players to join your temporary server.
When it comes to downloading games, the speed you want depends on your patience and the type of game you download. Triple-A titles, like Call of Duty or Baldur's Gate 3, require over 100 GBs (gigabytes) of space to download. With a slower internet connection, you might have to wait an entire day to receive these games. Smaller indie titles, like Stardew Valley, will take much less time because there are fewer assets to download. It's really frustrating when you buy a new game and have to wait for hours downloading updates before you can play.
Bandwidth Requirements for Popular Games
Here's a table with some of the most popular online games and how their online bandwidth requirements vary:
Game |
Bandwidth Requirements (Download/Upload) |
Fortnite |
5/3 Mbps |
Minecraft |
Up to 100/15 Mbps |
Grand Theft Auto V |
10/1 Mbps |
Red Dead Redemption 2 |
10/1 Mbps |
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |
10/2 Mbps |
Roblox |
10/1 Mbps |
Rocket League |
10/2 Mbps |
World of Warcraft |
25/3 Mbps |
Destiny 2 |
1/1 Mbps |
Diablo IV |
30/1 Mbps |
Internet speed requirements are low when playing on a dedicated server, like those offered by the company Rockstar (the creators of Red Dead and Grand Theft Auto). Minecraft offers some dedicated servers, but most online play is done by creating your own server, which requires some upload speed as well. Keep in mind that these download speeds are based on your available network bandwidth, which you might share with other devices.
Importance of Upload and Download Speeds
When downloading games, you don't need to worry about the upload speed. But when playing online games, your computer is constantly communicating with game servers.
The fastest upload speed you need for most online gaming is 5 Mbps. If you run an online server, you'll need to increase these requirements based on the number of players you host. Higher upload speeds might be limited to more expensive internet plans, but some internet service providers include solid upload speeds with all plans.
Effects of Latency and Ping on Gaming
Latency include all of the factors that affect your internet speed. Ping is the time it takes to send data between locations. Having poor latency leads to higher ping, which causes your online gaming experience to lag.
Latency / Ping is arguably the most important factor for competitive gaming. This is the difference between what a game sees on their screen, and what is actually communicated to the server / other players. In shooter games like Call of Duty or Counter Strike, having a low ping is very important. This can be the difference between thinking “I should have hit that guy!” and actually hitting that guy.
To avoid slowdowns, stick to shorter, hard-wired connections to your router. Make sure the cable you use is in good condition. If you're stuck with a wireless connection, try and remove objects between you and the router.
What Internet Speed Do You Need for HD Streaming?
HD streaming typically refers to Netflix or Hulu and any video quality that's 720p or higher. However, the major buzzword for HD streaming is 4K video, which is the highest quality offered by streaming services. Streaming audio, like through Spotify, is also impacted by your internet speed.
The internet speed for HD streaming depends on the video quality you want and your TV. These speed requirements vary from 5 to 50 Mbps, more than some video games. For streaming audio, you don't need more than 1 Mbps, even when considering high-quality audio files.
Internet Speeds for Different Quality Levels (SD, HD, 4K)
Quality levels for streaming video vary from standard definition (SD) to 4K video. Here's a breakdown of what each quality level needs:
- SD 480p – 2 Mbps
- HD 720p – 3 Mbps
- HD 1080p – 5 Mbps
- 4K – 25 Mbps
Much like gaming, the internet speed requirements for your HD streaming device rely on what's available.
How Multiple Devices Affect Bandwidth
Streaming households usually have more than one device. When running multiple devices simultaneously, you'll want to account for their internet usage. For example, if you're running four 4K streaming platforms, you'll want 100 Mbps at least to handle this.
Typically, it's better to overestimate the amount you need if you want to avoid buffering.
Buffering: What It Is and How to Minimize It
Buffering is the delay you experience when your video streaming platform is trying to pre-load incoming data. When you see the rotating circle in the middle of the screen, your streaming platform is trying to use your network to catch up. This is buffering.
Buffering can be frustrating if you're watching a climactic season finale of Game of Thrones, only to have it freeze on Tyrion making an odd expression.
If you want to avoid buffering, start by ensuring you have the right bandwidth. If not, you might need to make a call to upgrade your network. If your network is still buffering, take steps to reduce your latency. This includes using a hard-wired connection and freeing up the space between your router and streaming device. If this doesn't work, you might need to call a technician to check for issues.
What Internet Speed Do You Need for Video Conferencing?
Whether you're catching up with an old friend or working from home, video conferencing is an excellent tool for staying in touch. The internet speed you need varies depending on the platform you use and the number of people you're conferencing with. A good rule for this is to have 2 Mbps for each participant (5 Mbps minimum).
Importance of Stable Internet for Video Calls
Stability for video calls can affect the experience you have while communicating. This can be frustrating when trying to talk to friends. If you communicate with your place of work, some co-workers might view this as you being unprepared for work-from-home duties.
Many online video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, allow you to test the quality of your connection prior to a meeting. To do this, you can open your platform of choice and start a private meeting. From there, start recording yourself (and your screen if you plan to share it) to test the quality of communications. You can also invite friends not involved with the meeting to test how this works with multiple participants.
Speed Requirements for Various Conferencing Platforms
Like online gaming, video conferencing tools require you to have an adequate upload and download speed. Here's a list of speed requirements broken down by platform:
Video Conferencing Tool |
1:1 Meeting Bandwidth (Download/Upload) |
5 to 10 Participants |
Zoom |
4/1 Mbps |
20/1 Mbps |
Skype |
1/1 Mbps |
4/1 Mbps |
Microsoft Teams |
1/1 Mbps |
1/2 Mbps |
Google Meet |
1/1 Mbps |
5/1 Mbps |
GoToMeeting |
1/1 Mbps |
5/1 Mbps |
If conferencing with a large number of people, like through a webinar, you'll need faster internet. The more people who join, the more bandwidth you'll take up.
The Role of Upload Speed in Video Conferencing
Video conferencing requires a stable internet connection, which means a decent upload speed. All of the other participants in the video call are downloading your video. So, if your upload speed is slow, you'll slow down on their side, similar to buffering when you watch streaming video.
Most broadband internet has enough upload speed to handle video calls with multiple people. But if you're working with a slower connection, check your upload speed beforehand. Because uploading is a secondary priority for many households, some ISPs charge a premium for accessing faster uploads.
What Internet Speed Do You Need for Downloading and Uploading?
The internet speed you need for downloading and uploading depends on your patience. If you want files now, getting a 1 Gbps (gigabytes per second) internet plan might not be out of the question. Upload speeds, which are of secondary importance to some ISPs, typically are less than 100 Mbps. However, some ISPs offer symmetric download/upload speeds, matching the speed at which you send and receive data.
Differences between Downloading and Uploading
Downloading is the speed at which you receive files while uploading is the speed at which you send them. Unless a household regularly sends files, video conferences, or plays multiplayer games, upload speeds aren't usually important. Having high download speeds might be more in demand, but both are useful for different reasons.
Typical File Sizes and Corresponding Download/Upload Times
To understand how file sizes, upload, and download speeds work, here's a table breaking down file sizes and how they relate to download speeds. Keep in mind that one side’s upload speed is another person’s download speed.
| Download Speed | ||||||
| Size of File | 1 Mbps | 25 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 250 Mbps | 500 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
| 10 MB (large image) | 1 minute and 20 seconds | 3 seconds | Less than a second | Less than a second | Less than a second | Less than a second |
| 100 MB (small program) | 13 minutes and 20 seconds | 32 seconds | 8 seconds | 2 seconds | 1 second | Less than a second |
| 500 MB (mid-sized program) | 1 hour, six minutes, and 40 seconds | 2 minutes and 40 seconds | 40 seconds | 16 seconds | 8 seconds | 4 seconds |
| 1 GB (1000 MB) (short HD video file) | 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds | 5 minutes and 20 seconds | 1 minute, 20 seconds | 32 seconds | 16 seconds | 8 seconds |
| 10 GB (indie game) | 22 hours, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds | 53 minutes and 20 seconds | 13 minutes and 20 seconds | 5 minutes and 20 seconds | 2 minutes and 40 seconds | 1 minute and 20 seconds |
| 100 GB (minimum size of large video game) | 222 hours, 13 minutes, and 20 seconds | 8 hours, 53 minutes, and 20 seconds | 2 hours 13 minutes, and 20 seconds | 53 minutes and 20 seconds | 26 minutes and 40 seconds | 13 minutes and 20 seconds |
File sizes like images or small videos rarely take more than five minutes to download. However, slower internet speeds can cause people to wait entire days when downloading video games or large file sizes. For those needing those files now or eager to play a new game title, this wait can get frustrating.
Cloud Storage and Backup: Bandwidth Implications
Cloud storage systems, particularly those with automatic backup features, can impact your available bandwidth. This is because most cloud storage systems automatically send files you put into a backup folder. The same can be said if you add files via a mobile app or web interface.
Cloud storage works both ways, relying on your upload and download connection. Because bandwidth also works both ways, you have both an upload and download limit. The cloud storage server also has similar limitations but tends to have faster speeds due to it being a professional provider.
What Internet Speed Do You Need for Browsing and Email?
Browsing and email are among the lowest-impact internet activities. You don't need a faster connection for browsing and email and can stick with speeds no higher than 1 Mbps. Web browsing, meanwhile, might take a bit more speed if you visit high-quality web pages.
If your email is more professional, like receiving thousands of emails a day through Microsoft Outlook (assuming you host the email server), slow internet speeds might not cut it. In these cases, having speeds of at least 25 Mbps (or more) would be better.
Satellite internet providers provide solid internet speed for these low-impact online activities. HughesNet and Rise Broadband are two internet providers that provide internet where few providers exist. However, faster satellite internet providers like Starlink remind us that even rural areas can get solid connection speeds.
Understanding How Multimedia Content Affects Load Times
Those high-quality web pages mentioned earlier are those laden with images and videos. This multimedia content can draw a lot of bandwidth on slower internet connections. If you have satellite internet with a data cap, you might want to avoid these websites when possible.
On web browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox, you can go into the settings to disable multimedia files. This is typically found under “content settings” or under privacy. But be warned, disabling images or videos can end up breaking your favorite website.
Email Attachments and Their Impact on Speed
Email attachments are files you can attach to any outgoing email. When you receive an attachment, you connect to the email server to download the file. When you download these files, it can have an impact on the available bandwidth for other devices.
With slower speeds, this might halt activities on these other devices. For example, you might have to stream at a lower video quality while someone is downloading a file. This situation is an improvement over old-fashioned dial-up, where only one person could use the internet at a time.
What is Considered High-Speed Internet?
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), high-speed internet refers to broadband internet access with a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 3 Mbps.
Some might consider 25 Mbps fast internet in rural locations. After all, they still rely on old-fashioned internet structures that support dial-up and DSL. DSL, which stands for “digital subscriber line,” is one of the first forms of internet after dial-up, ranging from 25 to 100 Mbps (depending on location).
Some locations without much service rely on satellite internet, which can range from 10 to 300 Mbps. The slower speeds below 150 Mbps are handled by HughesNet and Rise Broadband, while Starlink is ideal for speeds up to 300 Mbps. In either case, the need to rent a satellite dish or pay a premium is necessary to match what more populous areas might consider high-speed internet.
Faster cable and fiber internet connections are typically available in larger cities. Cable provides speeds of up to 500 Mbps, while fiber internet providers commonly provide 1 Gbps (or 1,000 Mbps). However, not all households need this internet speed, as the need for these faster internet options varies depending on household needs. For many, these faster Internet speeds come as a luxury of living in an area with more people and money.
Variations in High-Speed Internet: Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Satellite
Here's a quick breakdown clarifying the variations you can find in high-speed internet:
Internet |
Speed Range |
DSL Internet |
1 to 100 Mbps |
Satellite Internet |
25 to 300 Mbps |
Cable Internet |
10 to 1,000 Mbps |
Fiber Internet |
200 Mbps to 20 Gbps |
These speeds are generally what you'll find across most areas. As technology grows, these numbers might change.
The Future of High-Speed Internet: Emerging Technologies
According to estimated future trends, there's a good chance we might see the internet reach 100 Gbps by 2050. This is purely based on estimates from the internet growth rate. After all, there's also a chance that we might plateau in our relentless pursuit of speed.
Other future potential cases include mobile data finally catching up (and overcoming) internet speeds with the release of 10G. The most recent mobile data speeds under 5G might be eclipsed by this change. The idea of sending massive amounts of data over wide mobile connections isn't too far away.
Short of Futurama's Pilot episode dramatically introducing us to “the world of tomorrow,” all we have are theories about which comes first. Hopefully, we can see more internet in areas that need it more before we introduce another luxury item. But until then, we can continue to get excited about what is to come.