To estimate download time, enter the file size and your connection speed into the Bandwidth Calculator. It converts between bytes and bits and shows how long the transfer should take.
How to use the Bandwidth / Download Time Calculator
- Enter the file size and unit.
- Enter your connection speed in Mbps.
- Read the estimated time.
- Adjust for overhead.
Worked example
A 1 GB file on a 100 Mbps connection takes about 80 seconds, because 1 GB is 8,000 megabits and 8,000 divided by 100 is 80.
Tips and common mistakes
- Speeds are in bits per second while file sizes are in bytes, a factor of 8.
- Real speeds are usually lower because of overhead and congestion.
- Wi-Fi and server limits can be the bottleneck.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it slower in practice?
Network overhead, distance and other traffic reduce real throughput.
Mbps or MBps?
Mbps is megabits and MBps is megabytes; there are 8 bits in a byte.
Is it private?
Yes.