{
  "id": "internet-speed",
  "version": "ba6683781f73",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Internet Speed Calculator",
  "question": "Which internet speed do I need?",
  "summary": "Adds up the download and upload speed a home needs for the streams and video calls it runs at the same time, from the services’ own recommended speeds, plus any other use you add.",
  "category": "logic",
  "subcategory": "networks",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/logic/internet-speed-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/logic/internet-speed-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "Download = 15 × 4K streams + 5 × 1080p streams + 3 × 720p streams + 3.0 × video calls + other download. Upload = 3.8 × video calls + other upload. All in Mbps.",
  "assumptions": [
    "Speeds are the services’ own recommendations; other services may need more or less.",
    "Everything counted runs at the same time. Things that never overlap need not be added together.",
    "The answer is the speed the activities use. Wi-Fi, other users on the line and busy hours can lower what a plan delivers, so a plan above this number leaves room."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "uhd": {
        "title": "4K streams",
        "description": "Videos streamed in 4K (Ultra HD) at the same time.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100
      },
      "fhd": {
        "title": "1080p (full HD) streams",
        "description": "Videos streamed in 1080p at the same time.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100
      },
      "hd": {
        "title": "720p (HD) streams",
        "description": "Videos streamed in 720p at the same time.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100
      },
      "calls": {
        "title": "HD video calls",
        "description": "Group video calls in 1080p at the same time.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100
      },
      "od": {
        "title": "Other download (Mbps)",
        "description": "Any other download speed to add, in Mbps: online games, large downloads, smart home devices.",
        "type": "number",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100000
      },
      "ou": {
        "title": "Other upload (Mbps)",
        "description": "Any other upload speed to add, in Mbps: cloud backup, live streaming.",
        "type": "number",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "down": {
      "label": "Download speed needed (Mbps)",
      "description": "The sum of the download speeds of everything running at once.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "up": {
      "label": "Upload speed needed (Mbps)",
      "description": "The sum of the upload speeds of everything running at once.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "streams": {
      "label": "Streams and calls at once",
      "description": "The number of video streams and calls counted.",
      "format": "integer"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "uhd": 1,
      "fhd": 1,
      "hd": 0,
      "calls": 1,
      "od": 0,
      "ou": 0
    },
    "outputs": {
      "down": 23,
      "up": 3.8,
      "streams": 3
    },
    "text": "You need about 23 Mbps download and 3.8 Mbps upload for 3 streams and calls at once."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "uhd": 1,
        "fhd": 1,
        "hd": 0,
        "calls": 1,
        "od": 0,
        "ou": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "down": 23,
        "up": 3.8,
        "streams": 3
      },
      "source": "Netflix Help Center, \"Internet connection speed recommendations\" (720p 3 Mbps, 1080p 5 Mbps, 4K 15 Mbps), https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306 (retrieved 2026-10-05); Zoom Support, \"Zoom system requirements: bandwidth\" (group 1080p video: 3.8 Mbps up, 3.0 Mbps down), https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0060748 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 15 + 5 + 3 = 23 Mbps down, 3.8 Mbps up"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "uhd": 2,
        "fhd": 0,
        "hd": 3,
        "calls": 2,
        "od": 10,
        "ou": 1.5
      },
      "expect": {
        "down": 55,
        "up": 9.1,
        "streams": 7
      },
      "source": "Netflix Help Center, \"Internet connection speed recommendations\" (720p 3 Mbps, 1080p 5 Mbps, 4K 15 Mbps), https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306 (retrieved 2026-10-05); Zoom Support, \"Zoom system requirements: bandwidth\" (group 1080p video: 3.8 Mbps up, 3.0 Mbps down), https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0060748 (retrieved 2026-10-05); hand calculation in content.mdx: 2 × 15 + 3 × 3 + 2 × 3 + 10 = 55 down; 2 × 3.8 + 1.5 = 9.1 up"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "Netflix Help Center, \"Internet connection speed recommendations\": 720p 3 Mbps, 1080p 5 Mbps, 4K 15 Mbps. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306 (retrieved 2026-10-05)",
    "Zoom Support, \"Zoom system requirements: bandwidth\": group video calls in 1080p, 3.8 Mbps up and 3.0 Mbps down. https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0060748 (retrieved 2026-10-05)"
  ],
  "related": [
    "download-time",
    "bandwidth",
    "subnet"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}