Download times at common speeds
| File | 10 Mbps | 50 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 500 Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song (5 MB) | 4 s | 1 s | under 1 s | under 1 s |
| Phone photo set (500 MB) | 7 min | 1 min 20 s | 40 s | 8 s |
| HD movie (4 GB) | 53 min | 11 min | 5 min 20 s | 1 min 4 s |
| Mobile game (10 GB) | 2 h 13 min | 27 min | 13 min | 2 min 40 s |
| Large PC game (100 GB) | 22 h 13 min | 4 h 27 min | 2 h 13 min | 27 min |
Times assume the full speed is available. Upload times work the same way — use your upload speed from the speed test.
The formula
Time (seconds) = file size in megabytes × 8 ÷ speed in Mbps
Internet speeds are sold in megabits per second, while file sizes are shown in megabytes. One byte is 8 bits, which is why the 8 appears. This calculator uses decimal units (1 GB = 1,000 MB), the same as storage makers and most download stores.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate download time?
Convert the file size to bits (multiply megabytes by 8), then divide by your speed in megabits per second. A 1 GB file is 8,000 megabits; at 50 Mbps it takes 8,000 ÷ 50 = 160 seconds.
Why do downloads take longer than the calculator says?
Real downloads share your connection with other apps and devices, lose some speed to protocol overhead, and depend on how fast the server sends. Expect about 80–90% of your measured speed in practice.
How long does it take to download 1 GB?
About 13 minutes at 10 Mbps, 2 minutes 40 seconds at 50 Mbps, 80 seconds at 100 Mbps, and 8 seconds at 1 Gbps.
Is MB the same as Mb?
No. A capital B means bytes and a small b means bits. One megabyte (MB) is 8 megabits (Mb), so 100 Mbps is 12.5 MB/s.