UK Broadband Speed Test

What your results mean

Browsing and email

10 Mbps or more is usually enough. Lower latency makes pages feel snappier.

HD and 4K streaming

HD needs around 5 Mbps per stream; 4K around 25 Mbps. Buffering suggests speed or Wi‑Fi issues.

Gaming

Latency matters more than raw speed. Under 50 ms idle is ideal; high jitter causes stutters.

Video calls

3 Mbps upload is often enough. Low jitter and download latency under load keep calls smooth.

Multi-user households

Several people streaming, gaming or on calls need more bandwidth. 50–100 Mbps is a good starting point for UK homes. Compare packages to find the right speed for your household.

How to improve your broadband at home

• Use Ethernet where possible – Wired connections are more stable than Wi‑Fi. For desktops, TVs, and consoles, a cable to the router helps.
• Place your router centrally – Avoid cupboards and corners. Higher up and away from walls improves Wi‑Fi coverage.
• Update your router – Older routers may not support faster speeds. Check if your provider offers a free upgrade.
• Check for full fibre – If it's available at your address, upgrading can improve speed and latency. Use BroadbandMap.org.uk or SearchSwitchSave to compare.
• Reduce interference – Move the router away from baby monitors, microwaves, and thick walls.

How to get the most accurate result

• Use Ethernet – Wired gives the most consistent result. Wi‑Fi can vary with distance, walls and interference.
• Stand close to your router – If on Wi‑Fi, reduce distance and obstructions.
• Close other apps and tabs – Background downloads and streaming skew results.
• Turn off VPNs – VPNs route traffic differently and often slow or skew results.
• Test at different times – Peak evening hours can be slower. Run a few tests over a few days.
• Test on more than one device – Helps distinguish Wi‑Fi or device issues from line issues.
• Use Balanced or Max accuracy mode – Longer tests give steadier averages.

How Howfast measures speed

Download speed – We pull data from Cloudflare's UK and European servers in parallel. We warm the connection, then collect one‑second throughput samples. A light trim removes odd spikes for a steady average in Mbps.

Idle latency – The round-trip time for a tiny request when the line is idle. Lower values mean snappier pages and games.

Download latency (latency under load) – Latency measured while the download runs. High values indicate bufferbloat – extra delay when the line is busy.

Jitter – How much latency varies between pings. Lower jitter means steadier performance for video calls and gaming.

Sampling and averaging – We collect many one‑second samples during the test and report a trimmed average. This reduces the effect of brief spikes or dips.

Why browser and device matter – Different browsers and devices handle connections differently. CPU, Wi‑Fi chip and background apps can affect results. For the most comparable results, test on the same device and browser.

Why results vary – Wi‑Fi quality, VPNs, background traffic, time of day and distance to the server all affect results. Use Ethernet for consistency.

Methodology v2 · Last updated February 2025

When to retest or contact your provider

• Big drops at peak times – If results are much lower in the evening, your provider may be congested.
• Repeated poor latency or jitter – Consistently high values can indicate line or router issues.
• Router restarts don't help – Try power-cycling the router; if problems persist, contact your provider.
• Wired tests are also poor – If Ethernet results are low, the issue is likely with the line or provider, not Wi‑Fi.
• Contacting your provider with evidence – Save or screenshot several test results (date, time, values). Ofcom has guidance on complaining if your provider doesn't resolve issues.