Bandwidth Calculator
Calculate data transfer time, required bandwidth or monthly data usage for streaming, downloading or uploading.
How to use the Bandwidth Calculator
- Enter your inputs into the Bandwidth Calculator above.
- Results update instantly as you type — no submit button needed.
- Adjust any value to see how the result changes in real time.
The bandwidth math
Transfer time = File size / Bandwidth · · · Be careful with units: 8 bits = 1 byte
Internet speeds are typically Mbps (megabits per second). File sizes are typically MB (megabytes). 100 Mbps download = 100/8 = 12.5 MB/sec.
Worked example
A 4 GB file (4,000 MB) on a 100 Mbps connection: time = 4,000 × 8 / 100 = 320 seconds ≈ 5.3 minutes. Streaming 4K Netflix (~25 Mbps) for 2 hours uses about 22.5 GB.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my download speed differ from my plan?
Plans quote peak speeds. Real performance depends on server, congestion, Wi-Fi quality, distance from router and ISP throttling. Typical real-world speeds are 70–90% of advertised peak.
How much data does streaming use?
HD video: ~3 GB/hour. 4K: ~7 GB/hour. Music streaming: ~70 MB/hour. Video calls: ~1 GB/hour for HD. Most household data is video.
What's the difference between bits and bytes?
1 byte = 8 bits. Internet speeds are in bits (Mbps); file sizes are in bytes (MB). Divide speed in Mbps by 8 to get download speed in MB/sec.