4K streams often target 20–25+ Mbps; higher FPS doubles needs. We use common recommendations.

Can I use this for gaming/VC?

It’s aimed at streaming. Gaming/video calls have different bitrate needs—use this as a rough guide only.

What about audio-only streams?

Audio needs far less bandwidth; this focuses on video streaming.

Use daily GB to project monthly usage vs your cap (×30 days).

Actual usage fluctuates with content; we use steady targets for simplicity.

tech calculator

Streaming Bandwidth Calculator

Estimate required bandwidth and daily data usage for streaming by resolution, FPS, number of streams, and hours per day.

Results

Required bandwidth (Mbps): 5.00
Data per day (GB): 4.50

How to use this calculator

Choose resolution and frame rate.
Enter number of concurrent streams and hours per day.
Review required Mbps and estimated daily data usage.

Inputs explained

Resolution: Target streaming resolution (720p/1080p/4K).
Frame rate: Higher FPS needs more bandwidth; we scale vs 30 FPS.
Number of streams: Concurrent streams you expect at that quality.
Hours per day: Viewing time per day across those streams.

How it works

Base Mbps by resolution (e.g., ~3 for 720p, ~5 for 1080p, ~25 for 4K).

Adjust for higher FPS (fps/30 factor) and multiply by stream count. Daily data = Mbps × hours × 3600 ÷ 8 ÷ 1000.

Formula

Base Mbps by resolution
FPS factor = max(1, FPS/30)
Required Mbps = Base Mbps × FPS factor × Streams
Daily GB ≈ (Required Mbps × Hours × 3600) ÷ 8 ÷ 1000

When to use it

Checking if your internet plan can handle multiple HD/4K streams.
Estimating daily data usage for streaming caps or metered connections.
Planning bandwidth for households with simultaneous streaming/gaming.

Tips & cautions

Add headroom for other online activity; don’t max your plan with streams alone.
Different platforms vary in bitrate; this uses common targets—adjust if your service publishes higher/lower recommendations.
If you watch less per day, lower hours to see data savings.
Uses simplified bitrate targets; actual platform bitrates vary.
Does not model variable bitrate (VBR) changes during playback.
Data per day is an estimate; actual usage depends on provider encoding and content complexity.

Worked examples

2 streams, 1080p, 30 FPS, 3 hrs/day

Base Mbps = 5; FPS factor = 1; Streams = 2
Required Mbps ≈ 10
Daily data ≈ (10 × 3 × 3600) ÷ 8 ÷ 1000 ≈ 13.5 GB

1 stream, 4K, 60 FPS, 2 hrs/day

Base Mbps ≈ 25; FPS factor = 2
Required Mbps ≈ 50
Daily data ≈ (50 × 2 × 3600) ÷ 8 ÷ 1000 ≈ 45 GB

Deep dive

This streaming bandwidth calculator shows recommended Mbps and daily data usage for your chosen resolution, FPS, and concurrent streams.

Use it to see if your internet plan can support multiple HD/4K streams and how much data you’ll consume each day.

FAQs

Why is 4K so high?: 4K streams often target 20–25+ Mbps; higher FPS doubles needs. We use common recommendations.
Can I use this for gaming/VC?: It’s aimed at streaming. Gaming/video calls have different bitrate needs—use this as a rough guide only.
What about audio-only streams?: Audio needs far less bandwidth; this focuses on video streaming.
Data caps?: Use daily GB to project monthly usage vs your cap (×30 days).
Variable bitrate?: Actual usage fluctuates with content; we use steady targets for simplicity.

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Estimates only. Actual bandwidth and data usage vary by service, encoding, and content. Check your streaming provider’s recommendations for exact needs.