Broadband speed affects how quickly you can use the internet. However, faster broadband is not always worth paying more for.
The right speed depends on what you do online and how many people use your broadband at the same time.
What Does Mbps Mean?
Broadband speed is usually shown in Mbps.
This means megabits per second. Put simply, a higher number means your connection can move more data each second.
For example, 100 Mbps is faster than 30 Mbps.
However, that does not mean every home needs 100 Mbps.
How Much Speed?
Think about what happens in your home at the busiest time.
One person may be watching TV while someone else is gaming. At the same time, another person could be on a video call.
All of this shares your broadband connection.
So, the more people and devices using it at once, the more speed you may need.
What Uses More Speed?
Some online activities need very little speed, while others need much more.
As a rough guide:
| Activity | Approximate Speed |
|---|---|
| Web browsing and music | 1 Mbps |
| HD video call | 10 Mbps |
| One Ultra HD video stream | 30 Mbps |
| Several people streaming Ultra HD video | 300 Mbps |
These are guides rather than exact limits. Your actual needs will depend on how many things are happening at the same time.
Ofcom uses these figures to show how broadband needs rise as online use becomes heavier.
What Speed Does Your Home Need?
As a simple starting point:
Up to 30 Mbps
Can be enough for lighter use, such as browsing, email and standard video.
30 to 300 Mbps
Can suit most everyday home use, including streaming, video calls and working from home.
300 Mbps or more
Can be useful when several people regularly stream, game, work or download large files at the same time.
These are broad guides, not targets. Ofcom uses the same bands when helping people choose broadband.
Broadband Speed Checker
Not sure what you need?
Our Broadband Speed Needs Checker can help.
Tell us how many people use your broadband and what they do online. The checker will then give you a rough speed range to consider.
Use the Broadband Speed Needs Checker →
Download and Upload Speed
Most broadband adverts focus on download speed.
This affects things such as:
- streaming
- browsing
- downloading games
- downloading files
However, upload speed matters too.
Upload speed affects how quickly data travels from you to the internet. This can matter for video calls, cloud backups and sending large files.
So, if you work from home or regularly upload large files, check both speeds.
What Is Gigabit Broadband?
Gigabit broadband can provide speeds of around 1,000 Mbps, or 1 gigabit per second.
That is very fast.
It can be useful for homes with heavy internet use, many people online at once or frequent large downloads.
However, do not assume you need gigabit broadband simply because it is available. A slower package may already do everything your household needs.
Advertised and Actual Speed
The speed in an advert is not necessarily the exact speed you will get.
Your actual speed can be affected by the type of broadband, the network and how busy it is.
So, when you buy broadband, look at the speed information for your address rather than relying only on the headline figure.
Providers covered by Ofcom’s Broadband Speeds Code must give customers an estimate of the speed they are likely to get at busy times.
Check Your Minimum Speed
You should also be given a minimum guaranteed speed by providers covered by Ofcom’s code.
If your speed falls below this level, contact your provider.
If the problem is with its network and it cannot fix it within 30 days, you can leave the contract without paying an early exit fee.
Is It Broadband or Wi-Fi?
A slow device does not always mean your broadband line is slow.
The problem could be your Wi-Fi.
For example, your broadband may be fast at the router but much slower in a bedroom because the Wi-Fi signal has to travel through walls.
So, if one part of your home is slow, check the Wi-Fi before paying for faster broadband.
Test Your Speed
If you want to know how your broadband is performing, run a speed test.
For the clearest test of the broadband connection itself, connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable where possible.
This helps remove Wi-Fi from the test, as Wi-Fi itself can slow the connection.
Before You Upgrade
First, check the speed you already have.
Then ask:
- Is the whole connection slow?
- Is the problem only on Wi-Fi?
- Does it happen only at busy times?
- Are several people online at once?
- Do you regularly wait for large downloads?
- Would a faster package solve the problem?
If your current broadband already works well, you may not gain much from paying for a much faster package.
Key Points
- Mbps tells you how fast your broadband is.
- More people online at once can mean you need more speed.
- Faster broadband is not always better value.
- Check both download and upload speeds where they matter.
- Poor Wi-Fi can make fast broadband feel slow.
Choose enough speed for your home, not simply the biggest number.
Important Information
Energility provides general information to help you understand energy, household and business costs, services and ways to save money. It is not financial, legal, tax, technical or professional advice.
Prices, tariffs, grants, government schemes, regulations and other information can change. Costs, savings and calculator results are estimates and your actual results may be different.
Before making an important financial decision, signing a contract or carrying out significant work, check the latest information and consider getting advice from a suitably qualified professional where needed.
Energility may receive a commission or other benefit from some links or services. Where this applies, we aim to make it clear. This does not increase the price you pay unless stated otherwise.
Next: Fibre Broadband Explained →
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