What Is a Good Download Speed and Upload Speed?

Internet download and upload speeds are measured in bits per second (bps), with most residential connections in megabits per second (Mbps).

Most internet service providers (ISP) offer various plans and typically charge higher prices for the fastest speeds available. But over the last decade, the average residential internet speeds in the US have increased rapidly, to the point where your ISP's top-tier plans may offer more than you need.

This article will help you make sense of what a good download and upload speed are for everyday tasks so you can pick the internet plan that best suits your needs.

What Is a Good Download Speed?

Download speeds of 10 Mbps per person are for basic tasks like web surfing and email. However, bandwidth-intensive activities like video streaming (Netflix, etc.) and online gaming require 25 Mbps or higher for optimal performance. 

In addition to the types of activities you use the internet for, it’s also good to keep network congestion in mind. If you share a network with multiple users who like to stream Netflix or download large files regularly, you’ll need a faster connection to avoid connection bottlenecks.

Here’s a rough breakdown of download speed tiers and what you can do with them:

What Is a Good Upload Speed?

Whereas high download speeds are great for downloading large files and streaming from services like Netflix, good upload speeds are essential for activities like video chat or broadcasting live stream video. 

While Skype recommends upload speeds of 1.2 Mbps or higher for HD video calling, you’ll want much higher than this if you regularly use your home network for work, streaming, or online schoolwork. 25 Mbps is a good benchmark to aim for, but if you need a high upload speed, you may want to consider a fiber-optic connection if it’s available in your area. Fiber networks boast symmetrical upload speeds, which means they’ll match your download speeds.

What Is a Good Internet Speed?

The truth is that a good internet speed is whatever suits your needs at a price you’re comfortable paying. If you’re not a big online gamer or don’t own a 4K TV, you may not need an expensive internet package. But whichever plan you choose, it’s essential to make sure your ISP delivers on the promised speeds.

You can find out how fast your internet connection is by using an internet speed test site like Speedtest or SpeedOf.Me. If you find that your speeds are below the targets set by your ISP, there are a few things you can do:

• Use a wired connection when possible. Ethernet cables generally provide faster download and upload speeds than a wireless connection.
• Move your router. Wi-Fi signals get weaker over longer distances, so you can often get a speed boost by being as physically close to your router as possible.
• Update your router’s security settings. Unwanted connections can slow down your internet speeds, so make sure to use a complex password and WPA2 security.
• Restart your router. It may sound too simple, but unplugging your router and plugging it back in will perform a hard restart, which sometimes fixes slowdown issues.
• Call your ISP. If none of the solutions above help, contact your internet provider.

Is a 100 Mbps Considered Fast Internet?

For smaller households, an internet connection that provides a 100 Mbps download speed is quite fast. It’s enough to stream video in HD on a handful of devices at the same time without a noticeable dip in performance.

However, if you want to stream ultra HD on multiple screens or have numerous people in the same household play online games at the same time, you’ll likely want to push higher than 100 Mbps. Cable and fiber-optic connections are your best options for the fastest internet speeds, with many providers offering plans up to 1,000 Mbps in select areas.