The short answer: for most households, 30 to 100 Mbps download is enough for everything. A household of one or two people streaming in HD and doing video calls needs around 30 to 50 Mbps. A larger household with 4K streaming, gaming and multiple people online at once should aim for 100 Mbps or above. Gigabit (1,000 Mbps) broadband is overkill for almost everyone.
Speed by activity
These are the minimum download speeds recommended for common activities. Real-world speeds vary, and having headroom above the minimum is always sensible.
| Activity | Minimum download | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Web browsing, email | 2 Mbps | 10+ Mbps |
| HD video streaming (1080p) | 5 Mbps per screen | 10 Mbps per screen |
| 4K streaming | 25 Mbps per screen | 35 Mbps per screen |
| Video calls (Zoom, Teams) | 3 Mbps down / 3 Mbps up | 10 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up |
| Online gaming | 3 Mbps (latency matters more) | 10+ Mbps |
| Large file downloads | Any speed works, faster is quicker | 50+ Mbps |
| Smart home devices | 1 Mbps each | Any broadband |
Speed by household size
| Household | Typical usage | Recommended speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | Browsing, streaming, occasional calls | 30–50 Mbps |
| 2 people | Simultaneous streaming, video calls, WFH | 50–100 Mbps |
| 3–4 people | Multiple 4K streams, gaming, video calls | 100–200 Mbps |
| 5+ people | Heavy simultaneous use across devices | 200 Mbps+ |
| Home office (heavy) | Large uploads, video calls all day | Full fibre for upload speed |
Download speed vs upload speed
Most broadband deals advertise download speed prominently. Download is what you use when streaming, browsing and gaming. Upload is what you use when sending, video calling and sharing files.
On standard ADSL and FTTC broadband, upload speeds are much lower than download (often 1–20 Mbps upload vs 30–80 Mbps download). Full fibre (FTTP) gives symmetrical or near-symmetrical speeds — if you download at 500 Mbps, you upload at a similar rate.
If you work from home, do a lot of video calls, or upload large files, upload speed matters more than most people realise. See our guide to broadband for working from home for more detail.
Latency: the other number that matters
Latency (also called ping) is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Low latency means a more responsive connection.
For most uses, latency does not matter much. But for online gaming and real-time video calls, high latency causes lag and delays. A good latency for gaming is under 30ms. Most broadband connections achieve this, but satellite broadband (such as Starlink) can have latency of 30–100ms, which is noticeable in games.
What you do not need
You do not need gigabit broadband. Gigabit (1,000 Mbps) is marketed aggressively but is genuinely unnecessary for almost every household. Even with 10 devices connected simultaneously, the total bandwidth used by a typical household rarely exceeds 100–200 Mbps. Gigabit is useful for businesses, but for home use it is marketing more than substance.
You do not need to future-proof for 20 years. Broadband technology and pricing change rapidly. A sensible connection today is all you need — you can always upgrade later, usually without exit fees if you stay with the same provider at contract renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my actual speed lower than the advertised speed?
Broadband speeds are advertised as "average" speeds, meaning at least 50% of customers achieve that speed at peak times. Your actual speed depends on your distance from the exchange (for ADSL/FTTC), the quality of your internal wiring, and how many people in your area are online at the same time. Use the postcode checker on this site to see what speeds are typical in your area.
What speed do I need for Netflix?
Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for 4K Ultra HD streaming on a single screen, and 5 Mbps for standard HD. In practice, a 30 Mbps connection handles one 4K stream with plenty of headroom. For multiple simultaneous 4K streams, 50 Mbps or above is sensible.
Does the number of connected devices affect my speed?
Yes, but mainly when devices are actively using bandwidth. A phone connected to Wi-Fi but sitting idle uses almost no bandwidth. The issue is when multiple devices stream or download at the same time. Count active simultaneous users, not total connected devices.
Is 10 Mbps fast enough in 2026?
10 Mbps is Ofcom's definition of a decent broadband connection and is sufficient for one person browsing and streaming in standard HD. It will struggle with 4K streaming or multiple simultaneous users. If you are still on a connection below 10 Mbps, you may be eligible for the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which gives you the right to request a faster connection at a reasonable cost.