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WiFi Speed Need Calculator

Internet plans are sold by speed, and it is easy to pay for more than you need, or too little. Enter how many things happen at the same time at your busiest hour, like streams, video calls and games. The calculator adds them up with some headroom and suggests a plan speed.

How it works

• Typical download per activity: 4K stream 25 Mbps, HD stream 5, video call 4, gaming 5, web and music 2, big uploads 5; smart devices 0.5 each
• Upload: video call 3 Mbps, big uploads 20, most others 0.5-1
• Needed = everything added together × 1.5 for headroom (WiFi walls, other people, updates)
• Plan = the next common plan speed above what you need

If your speed is fine near the router but bad in some rooms, the fix is often a better router or a mesh system, not a faster plan.

Three things this tool can't see

• WiFi coverage. Thick walls and distance cut speed a lot. Test speed in the rooms you use most.
• What you really get. Advertised speeds are often 'up to'. Run a speed test at busy times.
• Data caps. Some plans limit monthly data. 4K streaming uses about 7 GB an hour.

Results are rough guides based on typical figures. Specs and prices change, so check the seller's page and your device manual before you buy. Some links on this site may earn us a commission. Read our disclosure.