This article is part of our guide How to Improve Streaming Picture Quality on Your TV.
The internet speed for streaming you need depends on the picture quality and how many screens are in use at once: as a rule of thumb, around 5–10 Mbps per HD stream and around 25 Mbps per 4K stream. But a fast connection that drops out regularly can cause more problems than a slower, stable one — so this guide covers both speed and stability, and shows you how to check your own connection.
Rule-of-thumb speeds per stream
Exact bitrates vary by stream and by how the video is encoded, but the following figures are commonly used as a guide for a single stream:
- SD (standard definition): around 3 Mbps.
- HD (720p–1080p): around 5–10 Mbps.
- 4K (2160p): around 25 Mbps.
Planning for several screens
These figures are per stream, so add them up for every screen in use at the same time and leave headroom for phones, computers and background updates. A simple way to plan, using the upper end of each range:
| Streams watched at the same time | Suggested minimum speed |
|---|---|
| 1 × HD | around 10 Mbps |
| 2 × HD | around 20 Mbps |
| 1 × 4K | around 25 Mbps |
| 1 × 4K + 1 × HD | around 35 Mbps |
Add a margin on top for other devices in your home. These are planning estimates, not guarantees — the actual bitrate of a stream can be higher or lower.
Stability matters as much as speed
Short drops in speed empty the player's buffer and cause pauses. A wired Ethernet connection is the most reliable way to keep speed consistent. On Wi-Fi, the 5 GHz band is usually faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz, especially in apartment buildings. Our comparison of Wi-Fi and Ethernet for streaming explains the trade-offs.
How to test your connection
- Run the speed test on the device you stream on — or as close to it as possible — not on a computer next to the router.
- Test at the time you usually watch, as evening speeds are often lower.
- Repeat the test two or three times and look at the lowest result.
Reading the results
| Result | What it means for streaming |
|---|---|
| Download speed | The main figure: compare it with the table above |
| Upload speed | Matters little for watching video |
| Ping (latency) | Very high values can slow down starting and switching streams |
| Jitter or variation | Large swings point to an unstable connection, often Wi-Fi |
What 4K really needs
Watching in 4K requires more than a fast connection: the stream itself must be available in 4K, and your TV, streaming device and player app must all support 4K playback. If one of them does not, the player shows a lower resolution. HDR adds its own requirements — see HDR explained.
If your speed is borderline
Choose HD instead of 4K where you have the option, reduce other traffic on your network while watching, and follow our tips on reducing buffering. Watching on a phone? Our guide to streaming data usage explains how much of your mobile allowance video uses.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 Mbps enough for HD streaming?
For a single HD stream it is often enough, provided the connection is stable and nobody else is using a lot of bandwidth at the same time.
Do I need 25 Mbps for 4K?
Around 25 Mbps per 4K stream is a common rule of thumb. Some 4K streams use less, but planning for 25 Mbps gives you headroom.
Why is my speed test fine but streams still buffer?
The test may have run at a different time, on a different device or close to the router. Short drops in Wi-Fi quality do not always show up in a single test.
Getting the best picture
Once your connection is ready, the settings on your TV and streaming device make the next big difference. Continue with how to improve streaming picture quality. If problems continue, our support team can help you narrow down the cause.