What’s a good broadband speed?

And having a fast connection is crucial for using it without the frustration of waiting for a page to load or a file to finish downloading. But how fast is fast enough?

A good broadband speed is anything that lets you use the internet without noticeable delays that hold you back. But the best speed for you will depend on how you and your household use the internet.

Here, we’ll go through what a good broadband speed is, what it’s used for, and the different types of speeds to look out for.

What is download speed?

When looking at internet speeds, the two figures you’ll often see first are download and upload speeds, with download speed often being displayed first.

Download speed is the rate at which data is transferred from the internet to your device, and it’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps). The more Mbps your download speed has, the faster you can receive data from the internet.

Every time you watch a film or listen to music on a streaming service, load a webpage or receive an email, you’re downloading data. Having a high enough download speed is essential for these activities to ensure a smooth, buffer-free experience.

For example, watching an HD movie needs a steady, uninterrupted stream of data from the internet to your laptop or TV. If your download speed is too slow, the video will keep pausing to wait for more data to arrive.

What is upload speed?

Upload speed measures data going in the opposite direction of download speed. It measures how quickly data is sent from your device to the internet. So while download speed is about receiving information, upload speed is about sending it. Upload speed is also measured in Mbps.

Every time you send an email with an attachment, post a photo or video on social media, save a file to a cloud service or use your camera during a video call, you’re uploading data. For more casual internet users, uploading activities are less frequent and involve smaller amounts of data transfer than downloads, which is why upload speed sometimes gets less attention than download speed.

But with more people working from home than ever, people making a living as online content creators and online gaming becoming more popular, having a good upload speed is no longer an afterthought.

For example, if you’re on a video call, your device needs to constantly upload a stream of video and audio data to the internet for others to see and hear. Slow upload speeds on your end can cause video calls to become choppy and pixellated for the people you’re calling, cause files to take ages to attach, and lead to severe lag when gaming online.

Check out our guide to internet connection speed to find out more about how broadband speeds are measured.

What’s a good download speed?

Here’s a quick breakdown of what different download speeds can handle:

• 1–5 Mbps: Send basic emails, browse simple websites and listen to music on one device. You might experience slow loading times on image-heavy websites and buffering when listening to music.

• 5–10 Mbps: Stream standard-definition videos on one device and browse the internet.

• 10–25 Mbps: Stream HD videos and game online on one or two devices.

• 25–50 Mbps: Stream HD videos, game online, and download files faster on multiple devices. This speed is ideal for a small household of 2–3 people who use the internet moderately.

• 50–100 Mbps: Ideal for families or larger shared households where several people might be online at once. This speed can comfortably support multiple 4K streams, online gaming, and fast downloads of large files.

• 100+ Mbps: Suitable for large households of heavy broadband users and multiple connected smart devices. With this speed, you can download a full HD movie in minutes and run many devices at once without any noticeable slowdown.

Find out more about the different speeds you might need here.

What’s a good upload speed for working from home?

For working from home, a good upload speed is at least 10–20 Mbps. While you might get by with less, this range provides a more reliable experience. Here’s why, with examples of work-from-home tasks that need a good upload speed:

• Video conferencing - Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet need a stable upload stream to send your video and audio. For a clear, high-definition video feed, you’ll need around 1–4 Mbps upload speed dedicated to the call. However, because there are often other processes running on your device in the background, you could still appear pixelated or choppy to others in the call, so about 10 Mbps would be more ideal to provide a comfortable buffer.

• Sending large files - If your job involves sending large files (such as design mock-ups, video edits, large datasects or presentations), having a fast upload speed is critical. For example, trying to upload a 500 MB file over a 1 Mbps connection could take over an hour. But sending it over a 20 Mbps connection would only take a couple of minutes.

• Cloud computing - Many remote workers rely on cloud-based applications and storage (e.g. Google Workspace, Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud). Every time you save a document to the cloud or sync your files, you’re uploading data. A higher upload speed makes this process seamless and almost instantaneous.

What’s a good upload speed for streaming?

When talking about what a good upload speed for streaming is, this means the speed needed to broadcast live video on platforms like Twitch, TikTok LIVE and YouTube Live, rather than streaming films (for which download speeds are more important). A good upload speed for live streaming is a minimum of 5–10 Mbps.

But because internet speeds can fluctuate – and, again, because there’ll likely be other processes running on your device in the background – an upload speed of 10–15 Mbps is better for higher-quality streaming.

What’s a good upload speed for gaming?

A good upload speed for gaming is a stable minimum of 1–5 Mbps. While having a good upload speed is useful for online gaming, it’s not actually as important as download speed, as you’ll mostly be receiving data.

However, what’s very important for a great gaming experience is having low latency, also known as ‘ping’. Ping is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back again, and it’s measured in milliseconds (ms). A low ping (under 50 ms) means your actions are registered by the game almost instantly. But a high ping means it takes the game a bit longer to register your actions, which can cause a noticeable delay or ‘lag’.

Why is my upload speed slower than my download speed?

Most residential broadband connections have higher download speeds than upload speeds. This is because internet service providers (ISPs) designed their networks to accommodate users who send more data than they upload. In earlier days of broadband, downloading data was more important than uploading it.

But with data uploading becoming more of a regular occurrence, upload speeds are beginning to catch up.

Why is my upload speed so slow?

There are a few reasons why you could be experiencing slow upload speeds:

• You’re using too many devices at once – Or you’re running too many applications at once.

• You’re on the wrong internet plan for your needs – For example, you’re using FTTC (Part Fibre) instead of FTTP (Full Fibre).

• Your network’s congested – During peak hours like evenings and weekends, the shared network capacity can become strained when lots of people in your area are online at the same time.

• Something’s blocking your Wi-Fi connection – Your upload speed could be affected by the distance of your device from your router, or if the router is placed behind an obstruction or near another electronic device. Find out how to improve your Wi-Fi connection here.

• You’re using outdated hardware – If you’re using an old router with a new connection, it may no longer be compatible with higher speeds.

Your area could also be having connectivity issues. Read our handy guide on how to check if the internet is down in your area, or, if the problem persists, learn how to fix a slow internet connection.

How to improve your upload speed

• Switch to a wired connection – While not as practical, a wired connection will almost always be faster than one over Wi-Fi. Plug an Ethernet cable directly from your computer to your router to bypass any Wi-Fi issues.

• Optimise your Wi-Fi setup – Move your device closer to the router, and make sure the router isn’t blocked by any physical barriers like a wall. Other electronics can also disrupt the Wi-Fi signal, like microwaves.

• Close background applications – Before an important video call or starting a live stream, shut down any processes that might be using the internet in the background.

• Update and upgrade your hardware – Make sure your router’s firmware is up to date. If the router itself is several years old, you might need to upgrade it to a model that supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, such as Wi-Fi 6.

• Upgrade to Full Fibre – If you haven’t already, upgrading to Full Fibre can future-proof your home against new technology and give you a symmetrical connection. See if you can get Full Fibre broadband in your area.