Upload Speed Test
Check how fast your connection sends data: the number that decides how good you look on video calls and how long uploads take.
Your connection
Detecting…
- Ping–ms
- Jitter–ms
- Upload–Mbps
Your connection is great
Tip: pause cloud backups and photo syncing on your devices for an accurate result.
How to test your upload speed
- Pause anything that uploads in the background: phone photo backup, OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync.
- Press GO. The test measures ping first to find the server, then uploads random data for 6 seconds over three connections.
- Read your upload speed in Mbps and the verdict below it, which shows what that speed is good for.
What is a good upload speed?
Most home plans upload far slower than they download, often 10 to 20 times slower on cable and DSL. Fibre plans are usually the same speed both ways. As a rule of thumb:
| Upload speed | Good enough for |
|---|---|
| Under 3 Mbps | Email, messaging and standard-quality video calls |
| 3–10 Mbps | HD video calls, online gaming and posting photos |
| 10–25 Mbps | Working from home, screen sharing and 1080p live streaming |
| 25–100 Mbps | Several people on calls at once, quick video uploads |
| 100 Mbps+ | Fast cloud backups, 4K streaming and large file transfers |
Our guide what is a good upload speed goes deeper, with numbers for Zoom, Teams, Twitch and YouTube.
Why is my upload speed slow?
- Your plan. Cable and DSL plans have low upload by design. Check the upload figure on your bill, not just the headline download number.
- Background uploads. Photo backups and sync apps can use all of your upload, which also makes ping spike. The bufferbloat test shows whether this is hurting your calls.
- Weak WiFi. Your device’s transmitter is weaker than the router’s, so a poor signal hurts upload more than download. Check your reading with the signal strength checker.
- A crowded 2.4 GHz band. Switching to 5 GHz often doubles upload speed in the same room. See 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz.
Want download and upload together? Run the full WiFi speed test.
Upload speed test FAQ
What’s the difference between upload and download speed?
Download speed is how fast data comes to you (streaming, browsing). Upload speed is how fast you send data out (video calls, posting, backups). Most activities use far more download, but calls and creators depend on upload.
Is 10 Mbps upload good?
Yes, for most households. 10 Mbps handles HD video calls, gaming and 1080p live streaming for one person. Families with several people on calls at once should aim for 20 Mbps or more.
How much data does the upload test use?
Usually 10 to 100 MB, depending on your speed. It runs for about 6 seconds.