Best Internet Speeds for Streaming and Gaming (2025)

Use this baseline to size your plan and troubleshoot bottlenecks. Streaming requirements Activity Download (per stream) Upload SD video 3–5 Mbps 0.5 Mbps HD video 10–25 Mbps 1 Mbps 4K video 25–50+ Mbps 2 Mbps Live streaming (1080p) 12–20 Mbps 6–10 Mbps Gaming requirements Online multiplayer: 10–25 Mbps download, 3–5 Mbps upload is usually enough. Cloud gaming (1080p): 25–50 Mbps; (4K): 50–100 Mbps with low jitter. Prioritize ping/jitter; throughput matters less than stability. Household sizing 1–2 people, light use: 50–100 Mbps 3–4 people with 4K and meetings: 300–500 Mbps Power users, many devices: 1 Gbps+ Tip: If your plan is fast but apps feel laggy, check ping and jitter. Use Ethernet or QoS (SQM) to tame bufferbloat.