Netflix recommends that its users download between 1.5Mbps and 6Mbps of bandwidth per hour. But what does that mean exactly? What kind of internet connection do you need to stream Netflix? And what kind of speeds do you need to watch movies on YouTube?
Here’s a list to help you figure out what type of internet speed you need to stream Netflix, YouTube, and other video content:
1. Download Speed – How fast can you download files from the web?
Download speed measures how quickly you can transfer large amounts of information over the internet. For streaming videos, Netflix recommends downloading at around 1.5 Mbps.
YouTube recommends a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps.
2. Upload Speed – How fast can your computer upload files to the internet?
Upload speed measures how quickly you’re able to send small amounts of information across the internet. For streaming video, Netflix recommends uploading at 2 Mbps.
YouTube recommends an upload speed of 3 Mbps.
3. Bandwidth – How much data can you transmit at one time?
Bandwidth measures how much data you can move at one time. For streaming video, both Netflix and YouTube recommend a maximum bandwidth of 25 Mbps.
4. Latency – How long does it take for data to travel from point A to point B?
Latency measures how responsive your internet service provider is when sending data. For streaming video, latency shouldn’t exceed 50ms.
5. Packet Loss – How likely is it that your internet connection will drop packets?
Packet loss measures how reliable your internet connection is. For streaming video, packet loss shouldn’t exceed 0.05%.
6. Jitter – How jaggedly does your internet connection fluctuate?
Jitter measures how smooth your internet connection is. Netflix recommends a jitter of less than 20 milliseconds.