What broadband speed do I need?
In short: Most households are fine with 30–100 Mbps for everyday use: browsing, streaming, video calls, and light homeworking. Heavy use—multiple 4K streams, large uploads, or competitive gaming—may justify 100–300 Mbps or more. Start by counting how many people and devices use the connection at once, then add headroom.
Key takeaways
- Match speed to simultaneous use: add up what everyone does at once, then add headroom.
- Upload matters for video calls and working from home—check upload as well as download.
- Don’t over-buy by default; use a sense-check like RightSpeed then compare at that level.
Why speed isn’t one number
“Speed” usually means download speed in Mbps (megabits per second). Upload matters too if you work from home, video call, or back up files. What you need depends on who’s online, what they’re doing, and how many devices are active at the same time. Technology matters as well: on full fibre (FTTP) you’re more likely to see speeds close to the advertised tier than on older copper-heavy lines, where distance and contention bite harder.
Rough guidelines by use
These are indicative. Real usage varies.
- Browsing and email: 10–20 Mbps is enough for one or two people.
- HD streaming (e.g. Netflix, iPlayer): About 5–10 Mbps per stream. Two HD streams: ~20 Mbps.
- 4K streaming: About 25 Mbps per stream. Two 4K streams: ~50 Mbps.
- Video calls (Zoom, Teams): 2–5 Mbps per call. Upload is as important as download.
- Working from home: 30–50 Mbps is usually comfortable; more if you’re on video all day or transferring large files.
- Gaming (online): Latency often matters more than raw Mbps. 30–50 Mbps is typically enough; see our guide on latency for gaming and calls.
Why this matters
Choosing more speed than you need can mean paying more every month. Choosing too little can mean buffering and frustration. A few minutes working through your actual use pays off.
Adding it up
Add the demands of everyone using the connection at once, then add some headroom. A household with two people streaming HD while one is on a video call might need 20 + 20 + 5 = 45 Mbps. A 50–100 Mbps package would give room to spare. If several people are on 4K or heavy uploads, 100–300 Mbps or more may make sense.
Don’t over-buy by default
Higher tiers cost more. If you’re not doing 4K everywhere or heavy uploads, a mid-tier package is often enough. Use a sense-check tool like RightSpeed to get a suggested range, then compare deals at that level.