Minimum internet speed for working from home [2024]

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More people than ever are working remotely, but do you have the best internet speeds necessary for this?

The bare minimum internet speeds that we advise for a single person working from home are as follows:

However, there are several exceptions. We’ll go through how much bandwidth you require for conference calls to run smoothly, for managing emails, and for keeping up with office rumors. In addition, we’ll show you what to do if your internet connection is too slow.

Recommended download and upload speeds for work from home

Recommended download and upload speeds for work from home
Recommended download and upload speeds for work from home
  • Email and basic programs: 3-4 Mbps
  • Group video calls: 10+ Mbps
  • Large file transfers: 40+ Mbps
  • Zoom 1:1 video calling
  • 1.2 Mbps (up/down) for 720p HD video
  • Receiving 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
  • Sending 1080p HD video requires 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
  • GoToMeeting amount of bandwidth that GoToMeeting uses during a session will vary depending on the features that are being used
  • Computer audio (VoIP): 0.04 Mbps (40 Kbps)
  • Webcam sharing (HDFaces): 0.7 Mbps (700 Kbps) to 2Mbps, depending on number and size of webcams in use
  • Screen sharing: 0.04 Mbps (40 Kbps) to 8 Mbps, depending on the size and rate of changes happening on screen
Compare Typical Activities with the Minimum WiFi Speed Needed
Compare Typical Activities with the Minimum WiFi Speed Needed

What is a good internet speed to work from home?

For working from home, we advise a minimum download speed of 50 to 100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps if you want to upload large files to the internet.

We believe you’ll be fine with at least 50 Mbps if you’re the only person working from home and you aren’t doing any tasks that require you to upload large files, such as streaming on YouTube, participating in video conferences, or sending graphic designs to clients.

However, you’ll want to start adding additional speed as soon as you add more people and more internet-connected devices to your network.

Additionally, you should seek better download and upload speeds if you are a YouTuber, photographer, graphic designer, or if you participate in a lot of video calls.

Not sure if your household can all use the internet at once with your current internet plan?

We advise running a speed test to determine your actual download speed. It may be time to contact your ISP or look for another provider if you’re paying for download speeds that are significantly faster than what the speed test indicates.

What is a good internet speed?

A good internet speed according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is above 25 Mbps.

The majority of online activities, including HD streaming, online gaming, web surfing, and music downloads, will be supported at these rates.

However, since these guidelines were established in 2015, the COVID-19 epidemic has shown that they are insufficient for homes where people are working or studying from home.

Today, a good internet connection requires far more speed than 25 Mbps, and several members of Congress are already advocating for a 100 Mbps baseline requirement before something can be deemed broadband.

Ookla estimates that the typical household internet speed in the United States is about 152 Mbps download and 21 Mbps upload, which is far faster than the 25/3 minimum imposed by the FCC.

What is a fast internet speed?

What is a fast internet speed? - speedtestgo
What is a fast internet speed?

Fast internet download speeds are defined as 200 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. The standard for fast internet is now greater than ever, with average speeds of around 152/21 Mbps.

Anything faster than 200 Mbps can manage numerous web activities for numerous users concurrently without any interruptions.

We can assist you in choosing the internet speeds that would work best for your need.

The following are typical fast internet speed tiers: 

  • 200 Mbps
  • 250 Mbps
  • 300 Mbps
  • 400 Mbps
  • 500 Mbps.
  • 1 Gbps
  • 2 Gbps
  • 5 Gbps

Your greatest options for fast internet speeds are cable internet and fiber optic internet.

Additionally, fiber is a fantastic option for speed consistency because it is less susceptible than cable to reduced speeds during periods of heavy usage.

AT&T, CenturyLink, Cox, Frontier FiberOptic, Optimum, Spectrum, Suddenlink, Verizon Fios, Xfinity, and Windstream are a few well-known cable or fiber optic internet service providers. The majority of these providers will roll out speeds up to 2,000 Mbps in 2022, but all of them currently offer speeds up to 940–1,000 Mbps in some locations.

Does shutting off video help meetings?

Does shutting off video help meetings? - speedtestgo
Does shutting off video help meetings?

By stopping your own video, you can lower network load. Zoom meetings might put a strain on your computer’s memory and processing capabilities. Zoom will operate more efficiently if you close any other programs that you won’t require during the session.

Does Zoom save data if video is turned off?

Completely turn off your video. A video call can consume up to 2.475 GB of data per hour in 1080p resolution, while an audio-only conversation uses as little as 27 MB. You can save even more data by turning off your video entirely. By clicking the “Start Video” button, you can stop the video.

Conclusion

The bare minimum internet speeds that we advise for a single person working from home is 10 Mbps download speed and 1 Mbps upload speed. 

However, you’ll want to start adding additional speed as soon as you add more people and more internet-connected devices to your network. 

A good internet speed is according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is above 25 Mbps.

Fast internet download speeds are defined as 200 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.