Work-from-home guide

What internet speed do you need to work from home?

Think about the calls, streams, and uploads that happen at the same time. Upload speed and Wi-Fi quality can matter as much as download speed.

Two quick questions

Check your internet speed for working from home result

Your result updates immediately. Nothing is sent to a provider.

How many people may actively use the internet at the busiest time?

Count people actually online at once, not everyone who lives there.

What activities may happen at the same time?

Choose what is likely to happen at the same time.

Browsing and social media

Web, messaging, feeds, and everyday app traffic

Include

HD streaming

Shows and movies at roughly 1080p

At once

4K streaming

Ultra-high-definition video streams

At once

Added

Video calls and working from home

High-quality meetings and calls

At once

Online gaming

Gameplay traffic, excluding downloads and updates

At once

Cloud gaming

A streamed game session, starting at 1080p

At once

Livestreaming

Broadcasting video from your connection

At once

Security cameras

Cameras uploading at the same time

At once

Large uploads

Backups, media, or work files with an optional deadline

Include

Large downloads

Games or files with an optional deadline

Include

Improve my resultAdd optional details about services, files, your plan, or speed tests

The answer above is ready to use. Add only what you know. Blank fields will not change the result.

Video-call platformCall type

Compare my current plan

Copy the Typical Download and Typical Upload values—not only the advertised headline—from your Broadband Facts label.

Typical download (Mbps)Typical upload (Mbps)

Check speed-test results

Run at least three tests in each location, including one during a busy evening. Pause your VPN and large transfers, then enter the middle result.

Near-router test methodNear-router median downloadNear-router median uploadProblem-room median downloadProblem-room median upload

I entered the middle result from at least three tests in each location.

Your initial answer

Recommended speed

MEDIUM confidence

15Mbpsdownload

12Mbpsupload

A mid-range connection should comfortably handle these activities.

Speed to look for

25 Mbps down / 20 Mbps up

Compare these with the Typical Download and Typical Upload on a provider’s Broadband Facts label. A plan with this exact combination may not be available.

You probably do not need gigabit service for these activities.

Why this speed?

Generic high-quality video call2 sessions at once: 8 Mbps down / 8 Mbps up before extra room is added.
Everyday background use4 Mbps down / 1 Mbps up for 2 active people before extra room is added.

Confidence

MEDIUM confidence

This quick result uses fewer details than the optional section below.

See the calculation and assumptions

Activities before extra room: 12.0 down / 9.0 up
Connection used: 80%
Activities with extra room: 15.0 down / 11.3 up

We add 2 Mbps down and 0.5 Mbps up for normal background use by each active person.
We plan to use no more than 80% of the connection for normal activity, leaving some room for short bursts.
This result is an estimate, not a guarantee that every app will work perfectly.
Ping, packet loss, Wi-Fi coverage, router problems, server distance, and data limits can still affect your experience.

Video calls use both directions

The calculator shows download and upload separately. A plan with fast downloads but slow uploads can still struggle when several people are on video calls.

Use the general high-quality call setting for a quick answer, or choose Zoom or Microsoft Teams in the optional details.

Add a deadline for large files

A large backup can finish slowly or quickly. Enter the file size and how soon it must finish, and the calculator will work out the speed needed.

Use Typical Upload from the Broadband Facts label when comparing plans.
Test near the router before assuming your plan is too slow.
Test the problem room separately to see if Wi-Fi coverage is the issue.