Download Size Calculator
Enter the download size and your internet speed. The calculator works out the download time with a realistic efficiency, the speed in megabytes a second, the time at other speeds and the share of a data cap it uses.
- Download time
- Real speed
- Speed needed
Real downloads usually reach 80% to 95% of the plan speed, less over Wi-Fi.
Internet speeds are in bits, file sizes in bytes. Divide the speed in Mbps by 8 to get megabytes a second. A 50 GB game on a 100 Mbps line at 90% efficiency takes about 1 h 14 min. On a 1 Gbps line it takes about 7 minutes.
Download time chart
90% efficiency. Search for a size.
| Download | 25 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 500 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song, 8 MB | 2.8 s | 0.7 s | 0.1 s | 0.1 s |
| App, 500 MB | 2 min 58 s | 44.4 s | 8.9 s | 4.4 s |
| HD film, 4 GB | 23 min 42 s | 5 min 56 s | 1 min 11 s | 35.6 s |
| 4K film, 20 GB | 1 h 58 min | 29 min 38 s | 5 min 56 s | 2 min 58 s |
| Game, 50 GB | 4 h 56 min | 1 h 14 min | 14 min 49 s | 7 min 24 s |
| Big game, 150 GB | 14 h 48 min | 3 h 42 min | 44 min 27 s | 22 min 13 s |
Times at common speeds.
Speed and time
90% efficiency. Slide your speed.
The bars compare download times at common speeds with yours.
How to work out download time
Size to seconds. Step through it.
Size
In GB.
A wired connection is usually faster and steadier than Wi-Fi for big downloads.
Fibre, cable or mobile
Connections. Compare them.
Fastest.
Fast.
Mobile.
Downloads can also be slowed by the server sending the file, not just your line.
Before a big download
Download checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
Pause other downloads and streams to give the big one the full line.
What you get
Download time. Each tile explains one result.
To finish.
MB/s.
Other speeds.
GB.
For 10 minutes.
1 MB/s equals 8 Mbps. Download managers show MB/s, internet plans show Mbps.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
How long does it take to download one gigabyte?
About ninety seconds at one hundred megabits a second.
How do I convert Mbps to MB/s?
Divide by eight. One hundred Mbps is twelve and a half megabytes a second at best.
Why is my download slower than my plan?
Wi-Fi, other devices, busy servers and network overhead all take a share.
How long does a fifty gigabyte game take to download?
About an hour and a quarter at one hundred megabits, or seven minutes at a gigabit.
Does a download use my data allowance?
Yes, every byte counts towards a data cap.
What efficiency should I use?
About ninety per cent for a wired line, seventy for Wi-Fi.
Is upload speed the same as download?
Often not. Many plans upload much more slowly.
Know the wait
Work out how long a download will take and plan it for when you do not need the line.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.