How long will that transfer take?
Enter a file size and your connection speed to see the download or upload time, or switch modes to see how much data a given speed moves over time. Bits and bytes handled correctly.
Your numbers
What this means
Download time by file size
| File size | Megabits | At full speed | With overhead |
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How download time works
How Download Time Is Calculated
Download time equals file size divided by connection speed. Since file size is in megabytes (MB) and speed is in megabits per second (Mbps), you must multiply the file size by 8 to convert to megabits first (1 byte = 8 bits).
Megabits vs Megabytes
Internet speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are in megabytes (MB). There are 8 bits in a byte, so a 100 Mbps connection downloads about 12.5 megabytes per second. This distinction is critical for accurate calculations.
Real-World Speed Factors
Actual download speeds are typically 60% to 80% of your advertised connection speed due to network overhead, congestion, server limitations, and protocol overhead. Wi-Fi is generally slower than a wired Ethernet connection.
Common Internet Speeds
Basic broadband: 25 Mbps. Standard plans: 100-200 Mbps. Fast plans: 300-500 Mbps. Gigabit: 1,000 Mbps. Fiber: up to 2,000+ Mbps. 5G wireless: 100-1,000 Mbps. 4G LTE: 10-50 Mbps.
Common questions
Why is my download slower than my internet speed?
Your ISP speed is in megabits, not megabytes. Divide by 8 to get megabytes per second. Additionally, network overhead, server limits, Wi-Fi interference, and other devices sharing your connection reduce actual throughput.
How long does it take to download 1 GB at 100 Mbps?
At 100 Mbps, 1 GB (1,000 MB) takes about 80 seconds or 1 minute and 20 seconds. This is the theoretical maximum; real-world time is typically 20-40% longer due to overhead.
What speed do I need for streaming?
SD streaming needs 3-5 Mbps, HD needs 5-10 Mbps, 4K needs 25-35 Mbps, and 8K needs 50-100 Mbps per stream. For multiple simultaneous streams, add the requirements together.
Does upload speed matter?
Upload speed matters for video calls (2-5 Mbps), live streaming (5-10+ Mbps), cloud backups, and sending large files. Most ISP plans have much slower upload than download speeds, except for fiber connections.
Estimates only. Real transfer times vary with congestion, server limits, Wi-Fi and protocol overhead. Speeds use decimal (1000-based) units.