HowMuchIt / Internet speed
How much internet speed do I need?
Add up everything your home uses at the same time: one connection is shared by every person and device. The calculator gives both the per-person rule and the sum of your streams and calls.
Work out your internet speed
| Use | Speed |
|---|---|
| 4K stream | 15 to 20 Mbps (Netflix 15, YouTube 20) |
| 1080p stream | about 5 Mbps |
| 720p stream | 2.5 to 3 Mbps |
| HD video call | 1.5 to 4 Mbps, up and down |
| Rule of thumb | about 25 Mbps per person |
| FCC benchmark | 100 down / 20 up |
We use the high end of each range: everything in use at the same time shares one connection.
Streams and calls
A 4K stream needs about 15 to 20 Mbps (Netflix says 15, YouTube 20), a 1080p stream about 5, a 720p stream 2.5 to 3. A video call sends as well as receives: plan about 1.5 to 4 Mbps both ways for one HD call. A simpler rule of thumb is about 25 Mbps per person. The FCC's benchmark for home broadband is 100 Mbps down and 20 up.
Questions people ask
How many Mbps for a family of four?
About 100 by the per-person rule, which is also the FCC benchmark.
What upload speed do I need?
Video calls are the big upload: 1.5 to 4 Mbps each. The FCC benchmark is 20.
Good to know
- The FCC benchmark for high-speed home broadband is 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload (100/20).1,2
- Streaming one 1080p (Full HD) video needs about 5 Mbps.3,4
- Streaming one 4K (Ultra HD) video needs about 15 to 20 Mbps (Netflix says 15, YouTube 20).3,4
- Streaming one 720p HD video needs about 2.5 to 3 Mbps.3,4
- A video call sends and receives video: plan about 1.5 to 4 Mbps both up and down for one HD call.5,6
- Rule of thumb: plan about 25 Mbps of download speed per person in the home (one guide says 25 to 50).2,7
- Add up everything used at the same time: the connection's speed is shared by all connected people and devices.2,7
How we checked this page
Checked on October 27, 2026. We kept a fact only when two independent publishers agree, and each one is numbered to its sources below. Where sources give different numbers, we keep only what they share. We never write a price. This page was written with an AI assistant and checked against the sources below.
Sources
- FCC Increases Broadband Speed Benchmark (news release, March 14, 2024), Federal Communications Commission
- What's a Good Internet Speed? Find Out How Many Mbps You Need, BroadbandNow
- Netflix-recommended internet speeds, Netflix Help Center
- System requirements & supported devices for YouTube, YouTube Help (Google)
- Zoom system requirements: Windows, macOS, Linux, Zoom Support
- Prepare your organization's network for Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Learn
- What Is a Good Internet Speed?, HighSpeedInternet.com