Upload Speed Test
Upload bandwidth controls how quickly you can send data. It affects video calls (your outgoing video and audio), file uploads to the cloud, live streaming, and real-time collaboration. Use the tool on this page to measure your actual upstream capacity, then use the guidance below to interpret and improve it.
What is upload speed?
Upload speed is the rate at which your device can send data to the internet, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Unlike download speed, which handles what you receive, upload covers what you transmit. Common examples:
- Video calls: Your camera and mic data are uploaded to the meeting service so others can see and hear you.
- File uploads: Sending large files to cloud storage, email, or shared drives depends on available upload throughput.
- Live streaming: Streaming to platforms like Twitch or YouTube uses sustained upload to push encoded video and audio in real time.
- Remote work tools: Screen sharing, remote desktops, and collaborative whiteboards all rely on stable upstream bandwidth.
What is a good upload speed?
| Use case | Recommended upload | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 HD video call | 3–5 Mbps | Headroom helps keep quality stable when others join |
| Group HD call (3–6 people) | 5–10 Mbps | More participants mean more simultaneous outbound video/audio |
| 1080p live streaming | 8–15 Mbps | Leave ~20–30% headroom above your target bitrate |
| 4K live streaming | 25–35+ Mbps | Requires strong encoder and steady uplink |
| Large file uploads / backups | 20–50+ Mbps | Faster upload shortens backup windows |
| Remote work (screen share, RDP/SSH) | 5–10 Mbps | Stability and low latency matter as much as Mbps |
Rules of thumb:
- Keep 20–30% unused headroom above your target bitrate to avoid congestion when bandwidth fluctuates.
- For calls, stable jitter and low latency are as important as raw Mbps; choppy audio often means instability, not just low throughput.
Why upload speed matters
- Video calls: Low upload causes frozen video, dropped frames, or forced resolution downgrades for everyone seeing your stream.
- Remote work: Screen shares and remote desktops feel sluggish if upload is saturated; typing and cursor movement lag behind.
- Live streaming: Insufficient upload forces lower bitrates, artifacts, or frequent buffering for viewers.
- Cloud backups and file sharing: Slow upload lengthens backup windows and delays sharing deadlines.
- Smart home and security cams: Multiple cameras streaming upstream can consume significant upload and reduce quality elsewhere.
Common causes of slow upload speed
- Asymmetrical plans: Cable/DSL often allocate far less upstream than downstream.
- Wi‑Fi conditions: Weak signal, interference, or crowded channels reduce uplink efficiency and add retries.
- Congestion and bufferbloat: Heavy uploads (cloud sync, large transfers) fill queues and slow everything else.
- VPNs or proxies: Extra encryption and longer routes reduce effective throughput.
- Old or overloaded equipment: Aging routers/modems or busy CPUs can bottleneck upload, especially with QoS/inspection features.
- Upstream congestion at the ISP: Local node saturation at peak times can cap real-world upload despite plan speed.
How to improve upload speed
- Prefer Ethernet: Wired connections avoid wireless interference and typically deliver higher, steadier upstream.
- Optimize Wi‑Fi when wired is not possible: Use 5 GHz/6 GHz, place the router centrally, minimize walls, and pick a clear channel (1/6/11 on 2.4 GHz).
- Control bufferbloat: Enable SQM/QoS and set upload limits to ~85–95% of your measured maximum to keep queues short during transfers.
- Reduce background uploads: Pause cloud backups, photo sync, and large transfers during calls or streams; schedule them for off-hours.
- Check VPN impact: Disable VPN/proxy to compare; if needed, choose a closer endpoint to reduce overhead.
- Update hardware and firmware: Install the latest router firmware and keep network drivers current; replace very old gateways that lack modern queue management.
- Compare peak vs off-peak: If speeds drop only at busy times, gather results to discuss with your ISP about upstream congestion or plan options.
Test your upload speed
Use the tool on this page. Close heavy uploads on all devices, disable VPNs, and, if possible, test over Ethernet or strong 5/6 GHz Wi‑Fi. Run the test twice: once at a quiet time and once during your usual peak usage. Note the Mbps, how steady the graph looks, and whether ping/jitter spike during the upload—spikes indicate bufferbloat that can be improved with SQM/QoS.
Upload speed vs download speed
- Download speed measures how fast you receive data; upload measures how fast you send it. Many plans are download-heavy, which is fine for streaming and browsing but limiting for creators and remote workers.
- Low upload can also worsen latency under load, affecting responsiveness even when download seems fine. Check your downstream using the Download Speed Test and your responsiveness with the Ping Test.
Balanced performance needs enough upload for your use case plus low latency under load so calls, streams, and interactive apps stay responsive while transfers run.