RightSpeed.co.uk

The right speed depends on how many people and devices are active at the same time, and what they do. As a simple starting point:

• Light use (1–2 people): email, browsing, music → 50–75 Mbps.
• Typical family (3–4 people): HD/4K streaming, social, homework, some gaming → 150–300 Mbps.
• Busy homes (5+ people) or lots of heavy activity (multiple 4K streams, big downloads) → 300–500 Mbps.
• Power users / creators (large uploads, frequent big downloads) or small teams → 500 Mbps – 1 Gbps.

Always add headroom (≈25–40%) for busy-time contention, Wi‑Fi loss and short bursts. When you’re ready to choose, compare plans by speed at SearchSwitchSave.com.

We combine two signals: (1) a weighted score from your answers (people, devices, streaming, gaming, calls, big files), and (2) a peak Mbps estimate that totals typical simultaneous download and upload demand. We then pick the higher result and—if you’re near a tier ceiling or mentioned heavy tasks—apply a fairness uplift so you’re not caught short at peak time.

Our brackets reflect common UK tiers: 0–150, 150–250, 250–500, 500–1000 and 1 Gbps+. Upload is weighted strongly because video calls, cameras and cloud work can stall on slow upload even when download looks fine. If you prefer to trial a lower tier first, you can—use our tool as a guide, then shop deals at SearchSwitchSave.com.

Use this quick rule-of-thumb for a peak hour:

1. Count active people (not total devices). Budget 20–30 Mbps per person for general use.
2. Add 40–50 Mbps for each 4K stream you expect at the same time (this includes headroom).
3. Add 10–20 Mbps upload if you’ll be on HD video calls (per concurrent caller).
4. Add 50–150 Mbps if someone often downloads big game/OS updates during busy hours.
5. Multiply the subtotal by 1.25–1.4 for healthy overhead.

Example: two adults + two teens, two 4K TVs in the evening, one HD call → (4×25) + (2×45) + (1×15 up) ≈ 190 Mbps down / 15 Mbps up → with headroom choose 250–500 Mbps. Check what’s actually available at your postcode via BroadbandNow.co.uk.

If you live alone and mostly browse, email and stream HD on one device, 50–75 Mbps feels snappy. Add more if you regularly stream 4K, download big games or work from home with HD calls—then 100–150 Mbps is a nicer fit with headroom. To see price differences between these tiers, try SearchSwitchSave.com.

For a couple sharing Netflix/YouTube, social media and the odd video call, 100–150 Mbps is a great balance. If you both work from home with frequent HD calls or you run a 4K TV and console downloads in the evening, step to 150–300 Mbps to avoid congestion. Compare both tiers side‑by‑side at BroadbandNow.co.uk.

Assume evenings with at least two streams + background updates and social. We recommend 150–300 Mbps. If you often have two 4K TVs running, game downloads and video calls at once, go 250–500 Mbps. You’ll appreciate the headroom during school holidays. Hunt family‑friendly pricing on HotBroadbandDeals.co.uk.

Large households benefit from 300–500 Mbps so nobody has to police downloads during streaming. If you routinely run several 4K streams and big updates at once, consider 500–1000 Mbps. Bigger tiers reduce waiting for massive game patches and cloud backups. See step‑up offers at HotBroadbandDeals.co.uk.

Budget generously: per stream allow ~25–40 Mbps for 4K and ~50–80 Mbps for early 8K tests. Two 4K streams plus general browsing is most comfortable from 150–300 Mbps. If three 4K screens are common, choose 250–500 Mbps. Find 4K‑ready plans at SearchSwitchSave.com.

As a planning shortcut for “what speed internet do I need”: 20–30 Mbps per person covers mixed use; upgrade to 40–50 Mbps per heavy user (4K, cloud work, big downloads). Add a little extra for smart TVs/consoles that auto‑update. For a precise view of your current peak, run a couple of tests at busy time on HowFast.uk.

Live gameplay uses little bandwidth but needs low latency. Aim for a stable connection (Ethernet if you can) and at least 50–100 Mbps so a friend’s stream or update doesn’t spike your ping. The real hogs are downloads/patches; stepping from 100 → 300 Mbps cuts big game downloads from hours to well below one hour. Compare gamer‑friendly tiers at BroadbandNow.co.uk.

Budget per concurrent participant in your home: HD video ≈ 3–5 Mbps up/down. For smooth calls while others browse/stream, we suggest a plan with at least 15–25 Mbps upload. If more than one person calls at once, or you share screen in HD, aim higher or choose symmetric full fibre. Find strong‑upload packages on BroadbandHunter.co.uk.

One home worker with Cloud/Office apps and HD calls is comfortable from 100–150 Mbps with 15–25 Mbps upload. Two WFH people or heavy VPN/file transfers? Choose 150–300 Mbps (or more if you also stream 4K in the evening). Look for good‑upload FTTP deals on HotBroadbandDeals.co.uk.

Uploads are the constraint. Occasional large files work on 20 Mbps upload, but frequent backups and media libraries feel right at 50–100 Mbps upload (full fibre preferred). Check providers’ upload spec (not just download) on BroadbandNow.co.uk.

Most IoT uses tiny bandwidth. The exception is cameras: allow ~2–4 Mbps upload per active 1080p camera (more for 4K). With several cams plus normal use, aim for 150–300 Mbps download and 20–50 Mbps upload. If you’re adding cameras, pick plans with stronger upload on HotBroadbandDeals.co.uk.

Two 4K streams plus general browsing → 150–300 Mbps. Three or more concurrent 4K streams → 250–500 Mbps. Budget higher if you download games/updates at the same time. Filter by tier at SearchSwitchSave.com.

For one or two light users, yes. But add a 4K TV, console downloads or regular HD calls and you’ll feel the ceiling. Most homes are happier from 100–150 Mbps, which removes friction for only a little more per month. See pricing jumps at BroadbandNow.co.uk.

Yes for many: multiple HD streams + browsing + casual gaming are fine. If you run several 4K streams, frequent big downloads or two WFH users, step to 150–300 Mbps so evenings stay smooth. If you’re unsure, test your peak with HowFast.uk and see if you’re saturating.

500 Mbps is a great “never think about it” tier for busy homes and small teams. 1 Gbps is rarely essential but brilliant for creators and multi‑user households that constantly download large files. If the price jump is small, the extra headroom is nice to have. Check current offers at HotBroadbandDeals.co.uk.

Add at least 25–40% above your calculated peak. This covers bursts (game updates), Wi‑Fi loss, and busy‑time contention. If your estimate lands near the top of a tier, move up one tier. To validate, run an evening test on UKSpeedTest.co.uk.

Yes—weak Wi‑Fi can hide the speed you pay for. Before upgrading your plan, try:

• Place the router centrally and high; avoid cupboards.
• Use Ethernet for TVs, consoles and desktops.
• Consider a mesh Wi‑Fi kit for large or thick‑walled homes.
• Update router firmware and avoid 2.4 GHz where 5 GHz is available.

Run room‑by‑room checks to spot weak areas using UKSpeedTest.co.uk.

Reasons include peak‑time congestion, copper line length/quality (on ADSL/FTTC), Wi‑Fi interference, old routers and background updates. Diagnose by testing over Ethernet; if that’s fine, it’s a Wi‑Fi issue; if not, speak to your provider about faults or switching to full fibre. To see other networks at your address, use BroadbandHunter.co.uk.

For a true line test:

1. Connect a laptop to the router with Ethernet.
2. Pause other downloads/streams and close heavy apps.
3. Run a test twice—once at a quiet time, once at busy evening time.

Record download, upload and ping; repeat in different rooms on Wi‑Fi to check coverage. Start with HowFast.uk (it’s free).

Enter your postcode to see providers, technologies (FTTP, cable, FTTC), speeds and current offers—then filter by the tier that matches your needs plus headroom. Start at SearchSwitchSave.com.

Mbps = megabits per second (how ISPs quote speed). MB/s = megabytes per second (how download apps often show transfer). 8 Mbps = 1 MB/s. Example: 100 Mbps ≈ 12.5 MB/s. Use this to estimate download time or compare speed test results from UKSpeedTest.co.uk.

It’s the maximum under ideal conditions; your real‑world speed varies by location, technology and time of day. Providers also give a personalised range and minimum guaranteed speed. If your service can’t meet the minimum after troubleshooting, you should be able to leave. If you’re under‑served, check alternatives at SearchSwitchSave.com.

Yes—good 5G can deliver 100–300+ Mbps with decent latency, and 4G can beat slow ADSL. Performance depends on signal and mast congestion, so test at your location and place the router by a window. Compare 5G home broadband against fixed options at SearchSwitchSave.com.

It won’t raise your line speed, but it can unlock the speed you already pay for by fixing weak rooms and sharing capacity better among many devices. Upgrading a basic ISP router to a modern router or mesh can transform 4K streaming and call stability. To prioritise upgrades, map weak spots with UKSpeedTest.co.uk.

As a quick guide for what speed internet your business needs:

• 1–3 users on email/cloud + some calls → 100–150 Mbps (15–25 Mbps upload).
• 4–10 users with regular calls + cloud apps → 250–500 Mbps (25–50 Mbps upload).
• 10–20 users or heavy file transfer/creative work → 500–1000 Mbps with strong upload (50–100+).

If internet downtime would disrupt trade, consider business SLAs and static IPs. Compare business‑class packages at BroadbandHunter.co.uk.

CCTV adds steady upload load (≈2–4 Mbps per HD camera). POS terminals are light but sensitive to drops. Guest Wi‑Fi can spike downloads. For small sites with a few cameras and active guest Wi‑Fi, we recommend 250–500 Mbps with at least 25–50 Mbps upload. Filter suitable business tiers on BroadbandHunter.co.uk.

Upload is critical for video calls, cloud backups, creator workflows and security cameras. Many “fast” plans still have modest upload, which can become the bottleneck. If you do any of the above, prioritise full fibre with stronger (or symmetric) upload. Check the upload column when comparing on BroadbandNow.co.uk.