Download Time Calculator
Find out how long a download or upload should take. Enter the file size in kB, MB, GB or TB (or the binary KiB, MiB, GiB and TiB that operating systems often show) and your connection speed in bits or bytes per second, add an allowance for protocol overhead, and see the estimated time plus a table for common connection speeds.
Estimate Download Time
Estimated time
Working and other speeds
How to Use the Download Time
- Enter the file size and choose its unit.
- Enter your connection speed and choose its unit (most plans are in Mbit/s).
- Optionally add an overhead allowance.
- Press Calculate to see the time and comparisons.
About This Tool
Gamers downloading large updates, people uploading video or backups, and IT staff estimating transfer windows.
Input: File size and speed · Output: Time.
Features and Limitations
Features
- Decimal and binary size units.
- Speeds in bits or bytes per second.
- Overhead allowance for real-world conditions.
- Table of the same file at common speeds.
Limitations
- A theoretical estimate: server limits, Wi-Fi quality and other traffic can make transfers slower.
- Assumes a constant speed for the whole transfer.
- Results are computed in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to a server.
Example
A 1 GB file on a 100 Mbit/s connection with no overhead takes 8,000,000,000 bits ÷ 100,000,000 bit/s = 80 seconds (1 min 20 s).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my download slower than my plan speed?
Plans are quoted in megabits per second, while downloads are shown in megabytes per second (8 bits per byte). A 100 Mbit/s plan delivers at most 12.5 MB/s, and less after overhead.
What is the difference between GB and GiB?
A GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes; a GiB is 1,073,741,824 bytes. Windows labels GiB as “GB”, so choose GiB when using sizes shown by Windows.
What overhead should I use?
5–10% is typical for wired connections. Busy Wi-Fi or mobile networks can lose more.
Does it work for uploads?
Yes. Enter your upload speed instead of your download speed.
Related Tools
More like this: all Everyday & Education tools, all Calculators tools or the TinySandy home page.