Most homes pay for more speed than they use. The right number depends on how many people are online at the same moment and what they are doing, not on the size of the house.
A simple rule: for a typical home, 150Mb is enough. Go higher only if four or more people regularly stream, game or download at the same time, or if someone moves large files for work.
Speed by household
| Household | Typical evening use | Average download speed to look for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | Browsing, one HD stream, video calls | 30Mb to 75Mb |
| 2 to 3 people | Two or three streams, some gaming or home working | 75Mb to 150Mb |
| 4 to 5 people | Several 4K streams, gaming, video calls at once | 150Mb to 500Mb |
| 6 or more people, or heavy users | Many devices, large downloads, streaming gameplay | 500Mb to 900Mb or more |
These are our recommendations for comfortable use, with spare capacity for busy evenings.
Speed by activity
| Activity | Speed needed per device |
|---|---|
| HD streaming (720p) | 3Mb or more, according to Netflix |
| Full HD streaming (1080p) | 5Mb or more, according to Netflix |
| 4K streaming | 15Mb or more, according to Netflix |
| Video calls | A few megabits each way, more for group calls |
| Online gaming | Low; responsiveness matters more than speed |
| Game and software downloads | As fast as you can get; a large game can be over 100GB |
Add up the activities that happen at the same time in your home, then add a margin. A family of four with two 4K streams, a video call and a console download running together needs far less than 900Mb.
Upload speed
Upload speed is how fast you send data. It matters for video calls, backing up photos to the cloud, sending large files and streaming yourself on Twitch or YouTube.
Most part-fibre and many full fibre packages have upload speeds far below their download speeds. If you work from home with large files or create content, look for full fibre with a higher upload speed, or a network where the upload speed is the same as the download speed.
Line speed versus Wi-Fi speed
The speed in your contract is the speed reaching your router. What you see on a phone in the back bedroom can be much lower because Wi-Fi weakens through walls and floors.
- Use a cable for consoles, smart TVs and desktop computers near the router.
- Put the router somewhere central and open, not in a cupboard.
- Consider mesh Wi-Fi if your home is large, long or has thick walls.
Your guaranteed minimum speed
Providers signed up to Ofcom’s broadband speeds code of practice must give you an estimate of your speed and a minimum guaranteed download speed before you order. If your speed falls below that minimum and the provider can’t fix it within 30 days, you can leave without an exit fee.
Testing your speed properly
- Test on a device connected to the router with a cable.
- Close other apps and pause downloads first.
- Test at different times, including a weekday evening.
- Keep a record with dates if you think your speed is too low.
FAQs
Is 100Mb fast enough for a family?
For most families of up to four people, yes. It handles several HD or 4K streams and video calls at once.
Do I need gigabit broadband for gaming?
No. Online gaming uses very little bandwidth. A faster connection mainly shortens game downloads and updates.
What counts as decent broadband?
Under the Universal Service Obligation, decent broadband means at least 10Mb download and 1Mb upload. If you can’t get that, you have the right to request a better connection.
Will faster broadband fix buffering?
Not always. If your connection already meets your needs, buffering is often caused by weak Wi-Fi in the room you are using.