What speeds do I need for streaming?

Streaming is the continuous transmission of audio or video files from a server to your internet-connected device. It’s way more efficient than downloading and storing the files, which takes up a great chunk of space on your hard drive.   

Great question. It really depends on what your streaming and when. Let's take a look 👀.

📺 Streaming in standard definition

▪ Netflix: 3Mbps

▪ Amazon Prime: 1Mbps

▪ Youtube: 1.1Mbps

▪ NOW TV: 2.6Mbps

▪ BBC iPlayer: 1.5Mbps

⚡ Streaming in high definition

▪ Netflix: 5Mbps

▪ Amazon Prime: 5Mbps

▪ Youtube: 5Mbps

▪ NOW TV: 12Mbps

▪ BBC iPlayer: 5Mbps

🌟 Streaming in 4K or ultra-high definition

▪ Netflix: 15Mbps

▪ Amazon Prime: 25Mbps

▪ Youtube: 20Mbps

▪ BBC iPlayer: 24Mbps

*Speeds accurate as of November 2023 

Whether you're hosting a watch party at your place, or hiding in a cupboard watching a another penalty shootout unfold, streaming sporting events is becoming increasingly common. A recent survey found that 52% of UK viewers plan to stream this summer's Euro 2024 tournament

To stream the event in ultra HD and capture the ponderous expression on Gareth Southgate's face, you’ll need a minimum of 25Mbps bandwidth. Watching on your mobile would most likely require around 10Mbps.

And if your friends and family have got bored and wandered off to zap aliens or video call their mates, it could cause the picture to break up, so you’ll want to allow at least 40-50Mbps to cover it.

If you’re a gamer, your biggest enemy isn’t a zombie. It’s lag. The cause of many a missed laser blast, over-run corner or unfinished Minecraft build. The actual speed you need depends on the console you’re using. 

The bare minimum recommended by most manufacturers is just 3-4 Mbps to connect online and run the most basic games. But if you’re into high-definition multiplayer games using large worlds or maps, it’s a different story. 

Consoles like the Xbox Series X recommend at least 10 Mbps for solo play. And many gaming sites suggest a full fibre broadband package with a minimum of 25 Mbps if you’re gaming alone. And at least 100 Mbps if you share a busy home. 

Check out our guide to gaming. 

You’ve heard of working from home? Meet working out from home. Since the pandemic, more and more people have joined the e-fitness boom and started hitting the gym machines without having to hit the gym. 

The fitness industry has introduced a whole range of ‘smart’ equipment for running, cycling and rowing which give you a tailor-made indoor workout. But to get strong abs or glutes, you need a strong internet connection. 

Programmes like Peloton or Tonal need speeds of up to 15 Mbps to run smoothly. Live streaming a fitness class on YouTube could take up to 10 Mbps and even a pre-recorded one could use upwards of 5Mbps. 

So make sure your broadband is fit before starting on yourself.  

To find out if you’re getting the broadband speed you need to have a proper workout, the best thing to do is take a speed test. It’s very simple and will tell you exactly how fast your current connection is. If it turns out to be slower than an unmotivated sloth carrying heavy shopping, the easiest way to get up to a whopping 900Mbps is to switch to Cuckoo broadband. 

If you live with a houseful of gamers, zoomers and working-from-homers all trying to stream on different devices at the same time, you need a broadband package that can handle the action. Otherwise, everything will slooooowwwww right down. To avoid lag, aim for something in the range of 150-300Mbps.  

We’ve all had to watch the dreaded spinning wheel of buffering hell while your video catches up with itself. But what causes it? Well, to give you a nice smooth playback, a certain amount of data has to be downloaded before you start. 

The trouble begins when your video has to stop during playback to download more data, which makes it SO FRUSTRATING to watch. This stop/start nightmare is buffering.  

There are two reasons: 

1. Your internet connection’s too slow to stream your video in real time 
2. Your router’s too slow in sending the video to your internet-connected device

If you’re a regular bufferer, you probably need to upgrade your broadband package, your router or both. Handily, Cuckoo full fibre broadband includes a super smart eero Pro 6E so you can stream blockbusters or the boxing without interruption, even in HD or 4K definition.