What Internet Speed Do You Need

Internet speed refers to how quickly data is transmitted between the internet and your device, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). There are two primary components:

Download Speed: How fast data is received from the internet to your device. This affects activities like streaming videos, browsing websites, and downloading files.
Upload Speed: How fast data is sent from your device to the internet, impacting tasks such as video conferencing, uploading files, and live streaming.

Recommended internet speeds for common activities

Different online activities require different internet speeds to work well. The speeds in this chart should keep you in the minimum to recommended range.

General internet usage chart

Activity	Minimum Speed	Recommended Speed
Browsing, email, social media, SD video steaming, conference call	1 Mbps	5 Mbps
High Definition (HD) video streaming	5 Mbps	20 Mbps
4K video streaming, online gaming	20 Mbps	25 Mbps
Stream HD games	40 Mbps	100 Mbps
Multiplayer gaming, large file downloads (e.g., large databases, uncompressed high-resolution videos, etc.)	100 Mbps	100 Mbps+

Streaming services

Streaming services have specific internet speed recommendations depending on the quality of the video.

Streaming Service	Minimum Speed	Recommended Speed
Netflix	3 Mbps	15 Mbps
YouTube	2.5 Mbps	20 Mbps
Hulu	3 Mbps	16 Mbps
Disney+	5 Mbps	25 Mbps
Max	5 Mbps	50 Mbps
Amazon Prime Video	5 Mbps	25 Mbps
Apple TV+	5 Mbps	25 Mbps

Gaming & cloud gaming services

When it comes to gaming, the speed of your internet connection can significantly impact performance.

Gaming Activity	Recommended Speed
Casual Mobile Gaming (Sudoku, Words with Friends, Cosmic Rewards)	3+ Mbps
Mobile Competitive Gaming (Low Latency, FPS games, Battle Royale)	15+ Mbps
Mobile Cloud Gaming (Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming)	20+ Mbps
Twitch Streaming	3-6 Mbps
PC Gaming (Fortnite & ROBLOX)	3-8 Mbps
Console Gaming (Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch) Single Player	3+ Mbps

Tip: Gamers should aim for a ping (latency) below 50ms for smooth gameplay.

Smart homes & IoT devices

If you use smart home devices like cameras, voice assistants, or security systems, you’ll need additional bandwidth. The amount you’ll need varies based on your brand, model, image quality you want, and more.

Device Type	Minimum Speed per Device
Smart Doorbell Cameras	2-4 Mbps
Smart Security Cameras	1-25 Mbps
Smart Assistants	.1-.3 Mbps
Smart TVs & Streaming Sticks	3-25 Mbps
Smart Thermostats	.1 Mbps

Tip: Lowering your smart camera's resolution from 1080p to 720p, for instance, might be a good idea if you're on a data-limited internet plan. However, it will affect image quality.

How to figure out your household's internet needs in 3 steps

Here’s a step-by-step guide to calculate how much speed you need:

Step 1: Count Your Household Devices

Identify how many devices will be using the internet simultaneously (phones, laptops, gaming consoles, smart TVs, etc.).

Step 2: Estimate Usage Per Device

Use the tables above to estimate how much bandwidth each device requires.

Step 3: Multiply for Simultaneous Use

If a lot of people are streaming, gaming, or working at the same time, add up the required speeds.

Example calculation

A household with:

3 people streaming Netflix in 4K (3 × 15 Mbps = 45 Mbps)
2 people gaming online (2 × 20 Mbps = 40 Mbps)
2 people working remotely with video calls (2 × 5 Mbps = 10 Mbps)
1 smart doorbell (1 × 2 Mbps = 2 Mbps)^{*lower quality video}
5 home security cameras (5 × 1 Mbps = 5 Mbps)^{*lower quality video}

Total: ~102 Mbps needed

A 100-200 Mbps plan would be ideal for this home.

Upload speeds: An important consideration

While download speed often gets the spotlight, upload speed is crucial for activities like video calls, uploading large files, and live streaming. Many providers offer lower upload speeds compared to download speeds. If your activities center around uploading data, consider plans with higher upload speeds or symmetrical speeds (equal download and upload speeds), which are often available with fiber-optic connections.

2 ways to monitor and test your internet speed

To make sure you're receiving the speeds you're paying for:

Use Online Speed Tests: Websites like Speedtest by Ookla allow you to measure your current internet speed.
Compare Results with Your Plan: If there's a big discrepancy between your test results and your plan, contact your internet service provider (ISP) for help.

4 tips for optimizing your internet speed

Upgrade Your Router: Older routers may not support higher speeds. Investing in a modern router can boost performance. Keep in mind that some ISPs may require you to use their device, although they often send out firmware updates to optimize your service.
Position Your Router Strategically: To ensure even coverage, you may have to experiment with different locations in your home. The optimal location will vary based on your home layout and the type of internet service you have (e.g, fiber, mesh, wireless, cable, etc).
Limit Interference: Keep devices like cordless phones and microwaves away from your router, as they can cause interference.
Secure Your Network: Use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized users from using up your bandwidth.

4 final thoughts: Choosing the right internet speed

If you live alone and mostly browse or stream in HD → 25 Mbps should be enough.
A small family streaming, gaming, and working from home → 100-200 Mbps is ideal.
A large household with multiple 4K streams, gaming, and smart home devices → 200-500 Mbps is recommended.
Power users, large families, or smart homes → 500 Mbps - 1 Gbps ensures no slowdowns.

Tip: Always choose a slightly higher speed than your calculations to account for background device usage and occasional slowdowns.

T-Mobile Home Internet is America’s fasting growing home internet provider, with no annual contract and no equipment or service fees. T-Mobile All-In or Amplified Home Internet customers deliver typical speeds between 134 Mbps – 415 Mbps. Typical upload speeds are between 12 – 55 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges.

Keep in mind that speeds can vary depending on location, time of day, signal strength and availability, and other factors.

Find out if it’s available at your address and then try it for 15 days to see if it's a good fit.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. T-Mobile is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the third parties referenced in this post. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Any references to third-party trademarks are for identification purposes only.

Sources: