A good internet speed depends entirely on how you use it. The FCC raised its minimum broadband standard to 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload in 2024. For a modern household with multiple devices, most experts recommend at least 200 Mbps download to avoid slowdowns when multiple people are online simultaneously. According to the FCC Broadband Data Collection (2024), the average US fixed broadband connection delivers 242 Mbps download and 87 Mbps upload.
Speed benchmarks by activity
| Activity | Min download | Recommended | Ping needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web browsing | 1 Mbps | 10 Mbps | Any |
| HD video (1080p) | 5 Mbps | 15 Mbps | <100 ms |
| 4K UHD streaming | 25 Mbps | 50 Mbps | <100 ms |
| Video calls (1 person) | 1.5 Mbps ↑ | 5 Mbps ↑ | <150 ms |
| Online gaming | 3 Mbps | 25 Mbps | <20 ms |
| Working from home | 25 Mbps | 100 Mbps | <50 ms |
| 4K game streaming | 35 Mbps | 100 Mbps | <30 ms |
Speed by household size
- 1 person, light use — 25–50 Mbps sufficient
- 1–2 people, regular streaming — 50–100 Mbps recommended
- 3–4 people, mixed use — 100–200 Mbps recommended
- 5+ people or heavy users — 300–500 Mbps or gigabit
- Home office + 4K + gaming simultaneously — Gigabit (1,000 Mbps)
The average US household now has 17 connected devices (Deloitte Digital Media Trends, 2024). Each active device sharing your connection reduces available bandwidth per device.
Upload speed matters more than ever
Most ISPs offer asymmetric connections — fast download, slow upload. For reliable video calls, you need at least 3–5 Mbps upload per active call. For live streaming, aim for 20+ Mbps upload. If you work from home and regularly upload large files or use cloud backups, a symmetric or near-symmetric plan (fibre) is worth the upgrade.
How to check if your speed is adequate
Run a free speed test on SpeedCheckTest, then compare your results to the table above for your most demanding use case. If your download is more than 20% below what you're paying for, read our guide on why your internet may be slow. You can also compare your speed against global average speeds by country and connection type.
Sources: FCC Broadband Data Collection 2024 · Deloitte Digital Media Trends 2024 · Netflix ISP Speed Index · Google Workspace system requirements