Speed Requirements by Activity
- Basic web browsing, email: 5-10 Mbps
- HD video streaming (1080p): 5-10 Mbps per stream
- 4K video streaming: 25 Mbps per stream
- Video calls (Zoom, Teams): 10-25 Mbps for HD quality
- Online gaming: 25-50 Mbps (latency matters more than speed)
- Working from home: 50-100 Mbps for VPN, video calls, file transfers
- Large file downloads: Higher speeds = faster downloads
Recommendations by Household
1-2 People, Light Use: 50-100 Mbps
Sufficient for streaming, browsing, and occasional video calls. You won't need more unless you regularly download large files.
2-4 People, Moderate Use: 100-200 Mbps
Handles multiple simultaneous streams, gaming, and work-from-home needs comfortably. This is the sweet spot for most families.
4+ People or Heavy Use: 300-500 Mbps
Large families, multiple remote workers, or homes with many smart devices benefit from this headroom. Prevents slowdowns during peak usage times.
Power Users: 500 Mbps - 1 Gbps
Content creators, frequent large file uploaders, or those who simply want the fastest possible experience. Gigabit is nice but rarely necessary for typical household use.
Important Considerations
Video conferencing requires good upload speeds, not just download. Most plans offer asymmetric speeds (faster download than upload). For heavy video call usage, look for at least 10-20 Mbps upload speed.
Don't Overpay for Gigabit
Unless you have 10+ devices streaming simultaneously or regularly download huge files, gigabit (1000 Mbps) is overkill. A 200-300 Mbps plan often costs significantly less and provides more than enough speed for typical use.
Your Actual Speed May Vary
The speed you pay for is the maximum, not guaranteed. WiFi performance, router age, network congestion, and distance from your router all affect actual speeds. Run speed tests at speedtest.net to see what you're actually getting.
The Bottom Line
For most households, 100-200 Mbps provides an excellent experience at a reasonable price. Only upgrade to higher tiers if you have specific needs like large file uploads or many simultaneous users. Don't pay for gigabit just because it sounds impressive.