Internet Speed Test

How Internet Speed Is Measured

Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A "megabit" is 1 million bits — not to be confused with megabytes (MB), which are 8 times larger. When your ISP advertises "100 Mbps," that means you can theoretically download about 12.5 megabytes per second under ideal conditions. Speed tests measure three things: download speed (how fast data arrives at your device), upload speed (how fast your device sends data), and latency (the round-trip delay for a small packet of data).

Download speed matters most for streaming, browsing, and downloading files. Upload speed matters for video calls, uploading to cloud storage, and live streaming. Latency matters for gaming, video calls, and any real-time interaction where delays are noticeable.

What Affects Your Internet Speed?

• Your ISP plan — your speed can never exceed what your ISP provides. Check your plan's advertised speed and compare it to your test results.
• WiFi vs wired — WiFi adds latency and reduces throughput. An Ethernet cable typically delivers the full speed your ISP provides, while WiFi loses 20-50% depending on distance, walls, and interference.
• Network congestion — speeds drop during peak usage hours (evenings) when many people in your area are streaming and browsing simultaneously.
• Distance to server — data travels at the speed of light through fiber, but each network hop adds latency. Testing against a nearby server gives your best-case speed.
• Other devices — other devices on your network sharing bandwidth (especially streaming or large downloads) will reduce your measured speed.
• Router quality — an old or low-end router can bottleneck a fast connection. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) routers handle multiple devices much better than older WiFi 5 models.

Speed Recommendations by Use Case

• Web browsing and email: 5+ Mbps
• HD video streaming (Netflix, YouTube): 10+ Mbps
• 4K video streaming: 25+ Mbps
• Video calls (Zoom, Teams): 5+ Mbps up/down
• Online gaming: 10+ Mbps with under 50ms latency
• Working from home (multiple apps): 25+ Mbps
• Household with 4+ users: 100+ Mbps

If your speeds are significantly below your ISP plan, try restarting your router, switching to a wired connection, or testing at a different time. Consistently low speeds may indicate a problem with your ISP or equipment. Check your connection type and DNS server for additional diagnostics.

How This Speed Test Works

This tool measures your connection by transferring data to and from Cloudflare's edge network, which has servers in over 300 cities worldwide. Your test connects to the nearest edge node, giving you a realistic measure of your internet performance. Latency is measured with 5 round-trip pings (median taken), download is tested by streaming binary data from the server, and upload is measured by posting data to the server.

Keep in mind that speed test results are estimates that vary with network conditions. For the most accurate results, close other tabs and applications, use a wired connection if possible, and run the test a few times at different times of day.