Free Broadband Speed Test UK
→ Run Your Free Broadband Speed Test Now
Check your download speed, upload speed and ping against what your ISP promised. The test takes under 60 seconds, works on any device, and needs no app or account.
What does a broadband speed test measure?
| Metric | What it means | UK average (Ofcom 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Download | How fast data arrives at your device (streaming, browsing, updates) | ~69 Mbps |
| Upload | How fast you send data (video calls, cloud backup, file sharing) | ~22 Mbps |
| Ping | Round-trip delay to the server in milliseconds — affects gaming and calls | ~14 ms |
| Jitter | Variation in ping — low jitter keeps calls and games smooth | < 10 ms ideal |
What is a good broadband speed in the UK?
Ofcom sets 10 Mbps as the minimum "decent" broadband speed, but real-life needs are higher:
| Household type | Recommended download | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single user, light use | 10–25 Mbps | Browsing, SD/HD streaming, email |
| Single user, WFH | 50 Mbps | Video calls, cloud apps, large file uploads |
| 2–3 people, mixed use | 50–100 Mbps | Multiple streams + one WFH user |
| 4+ people, heavy use | 100–500 Mbps | Simultaneous 4K, gaming, WFH, IoT |
| Power users / smart home | 500 Mbps+ | Full fibre, future-proof |
UK ISP average speeds — what to expect
| Provider | Technology | Advertised download | Typical evening speed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| BT Superfast | FTTC (copper last mile) | Up to 67 Mbps | 50–60 Mbps |
| BT Full Fibre 150 | FTTP | Up to 150 Mbps | 140–150 Mbps |
| BT Full Fibre 900 | FTTP | Up to 900 Mbps | 800–900 Mbps |
| Sky Superfast | FTTC | Up to 59 Mbps | 45–55 Mbps |
| Sky Ultrafast | FTTP | Up to 500 Mbps | 450–500 Mbps |
| Virgin Media M250 | Cable (DOCSIS) | Up to 264 Mbps | 230–260 Mbps |
| Virgin Media Gig1 | Cable (DOCSIS) | Up to 1,130 Mbps | 900–1,100 Mbps |
| TalkTalk Superfast | FTTC | Up to 67 Mbps | 50–60 Mbps |
| TalkTalk Full Fibre 500 | FTTP | Up to 500 Mbps | 450–500 Mbps |
| EE Full Fibre 900 | FTTP | Up to 900 Mbps | 800–900 Mbps |
*Typical evening speed = median speed during 8–10 pm peak, per Ofcom guidance.
If your result is significantly below the "typical evening speed" for your plan, you have grounds to contact your ISP or invoke Ofcom's Speeds Code of Practice.
How to get an accurate broadband speed test result
- Use Ethernet — Plug your laptop or PC directly into your router with a network cable. Wi-Fi adds interference and reduces measured speeds by 20–50%.
- Test at peak time — Run the test between 8–10 pm to see your real-world evening speed, then again at 11 am to compare.
- Close other apps — Pause cloud backups (OneDrive, Google Drive), streaming, and downloads before testing.
- Test from the master socket — If possible, connect to the router plugged into your home's main BT/Openreach socket, bypassing internal wiring.
- Run three tests — Speeds can vary. Take an average of three results.
Why is my broadband slower than advertised?
UK ISPs advertise "up to" speeds. Under Ofcom's Voluntary Broadband Speeds Code of Practice, at least 50% of customers must be able to achieve the advertised speed during peak hours (8–10 pm). Common reasons for lower speeds:
- FTTC distance — Superfast (FTTC) speeds degrade with distance from the green street cabinet. If you are more than 500 metres away, you may receive significantly lower speeds.
- Wi-Fi signal — Walls, floors, and interference from neighbouring networks reduce wireless throughput. 2.4 GHz channels are particularly congested in flats and terraces.
- Peak congestion — Shared infrastructure means speeds can dip during evenings. Full fibre (FTTP) is less affected than FTTC or cable.
- Old router — ISP-provided routers from 2018 or earlier may bottleneck faster plans. Some only support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or have weak antennas.
- Internal wiring faults — Faulty extension leads, unfiltered sockets, and old BT bell wire all introduce noise on ADSL and FTTC lines.
- Line fault — Persistent slow speeds despite good conditions may indicate a fault on the Openreach network. Ask your ISP to run a line diagnostic.
Your rights under Ofcom's Broadband Speeds Code
If your ISP is signed up to Ofcom's Voluntary Code (most major UK ISPs are), you are entitled to:
- A Minimum Guaranteed Speed — stated in your contract and based on your line's actual capability.
- Notification if speeds drop below this minimum for more than three consecutive days.
- A fix within 30 calendar days of raising the issue.
- Exit your contract without penalty if the issue is not resolved within 30 days.
Keep a log of speed test results with timestamps as evidence. Our broadband speed test creates a shareable result URL you can reference when contacting support.
FTTC vs FTTP — which technology is on your line?
Most UK homes still have FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) — fibre runs to the green street cabinet, then copper to your home. This limits speeds and is sensitive to distance.
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), also called Full Fibre, runs optical fibre directly to your home. Speeds are faster, more consistent, and not affected by distance from the cabinet. Ofcom's target is 85% FTTP coverage in the UK by 2025.
To check which technology is available at your address, visit the Openreach availability checker or your ISP's upgrade page.
Related tools
- Ping Test — Check latency for gaming and video calls
- Jitter Test — Measure connection stability
- Wi-Fi Speed Test — Compare wired vs wireless performance
- Upload Speed Test — Check speeds for video calls and cloud backup