Determining a "good" internet speed depends entirely on how you use the internet. A speed that's perfect for casual browsing might be painfully slow for a family of gamers and 4K streamers. Let's break down what you need to know.
Key Metrics Explained
Your speed test shows four main results: Download, Upload, Ping, and Jitter. For most people, download speed is the most important.
- Download Speed (Mbps): How quickly you can pull data from the internet. This affects loading websites, streaming movies, and downloading files.
- Upload Speed (Mbps): How quickly you can send data to the internet. This is crucial for video calls, uploading to YouTube, and online gaming.
- Ping (ms): The reaction time of your connection. A lower number is better and means a more responsive experience.
Speed Recommendations for Common Activities
Here are some general guidelines for download speeds:
- Basic Browsing & Email (1-5 Mbps): Enough for one or two people to check email and browse social media.
- HD Streaming (5-10 Mbps per stream): To comfortably stream HD content on one device without buffering.
- 4K Streaming (25 Mbps per stream): 4K video requires a much faster and more stable connection.
- Online Gaming (3-10 Mbps): While gaming doesn't use a lot of bandwidth, it requires a very low and stable ping (under 50ms is ideal).
- Working from Home (10-25 Mbps): For reliable video conferencing and downloading work files, a solid connection is key.
The Bottom Line
For a typical household in 2025 with multiple users and devices, a download speed of 100 Mbps or more is considered good. This provides enough bandwidth for several people to stream, game, and work simultaneously without slowing each other down. For upload speed, anything above 10 Mbps is solid for most activities.