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Bandwidth Calculator

Download time, data usage and the speed you need.

Calculators Reviews Free · no sign-up

Transfer time at common speeds

SpeedReal throughputTime

Data rates by activity

ActivityPer hourSpeed needed

Download time

—

Details

Effective throughput—
Megabytes per second—
Per day—
Per month—

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Bits and bytes differ by a factor of eight

Connection speeds are quoted in megabits per second while file sizes are in megabytes, and there are eight bits to a byte — so a 100 Mbps connection transfers about 12.5 MB per second at best. Real throughput is lower again once protocol overhead is taken off.

Quick Tool Overview

The Bandwidth Calculator handles three related questions: how long a file takes to transfer, how much data a month of usage consumes, and what connection speed a household needs for everything it does at once — with the bits-versus-bytes conversion made explicit.

What it does
Calculates transfer time, data usage and required speed
You give it
A file size and speed, or hours of typical usage
You get back
Transfer time, monthly GB or a recommended speed
Best for
Choosing a broadband plan and estimating data caps
Calculators Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Bandwidth Calculator

Three related calculations in one place: how long a file takes to transfer at a given speed, how much data a month of typical usage consumes, and what connection speed a household needs for the things it actually does at once.

The bits-versus-bytes confusion is the source of most surprise here, and the tool is explicit about it. Connection speeds are quoted in megabits per second while file sizes are in megabytes, and there are eight bits to a byte — so a 100 Mbps connection transfers about 12.5 megabytes per second at best, not 100. Real throughput is lower again, because protocol overhead typically costs another 5 to 15 percent.

Key features of the Bandwidth Calculator

Bits versus bytes made clear

Speeds are in megabits and files in megabytes — the eight-to-one factor is where most confusion comes from.

Real-world overhead

Protocol overhead of 5 to 15 percent is applied, so the estimate matches what you actually see.

Streaming data rates

SD, HD and 4K video, music and video calls, each with a realistic per-hour figure.

Household speed planner

Adds up simultaneous activities to recommend a connection speed with headroom.

Every unit

Kbps through Gbps, and KB through TB, converted throughout.

How to use the Bandwidth Calculator

  1. 1

    Choose a calculation

    Download time, monthly data usage, or the speed a household needs.

  2. 2

    Enter the numbers

    File size and connection speed, or hours of streaming per activity.

  3. 3

    Set the overhead

    Real-world throughput is 5 to 15 percent below the headline speed.

  4. 4

    Read the answer

    Transfer time, monthly gigabytes, or a recommended connection speed.

Frequently asked questions

Divide by 8. A 100 Mbps connection transfers about 12.5 megabytes per second at best, which is why downloads look slower than the advertised speed suggests.

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