Bandwidth Calculator
Convert between bandwidth units (Mbps, Gbps, MBps) and calculate file transfer times. Understand internet speed in real-world terms.
Bits per second
100,000,000 bpsKilobits per second
100,000 KbpsGigabits per second
0.1 GbpsTerabits per second
1.000e-4 TbpsBytes per second
12,500,000 BpsKilobytes per second
12,500 KBpsMegabytes per second
12.5 MBpsGigabytes per second
0.0125 GBpsFile Transfer Time at 100 Mbps
1 MB
80 ms
100 MB
8.0 sec
1 GB
1.3 min
10 GB
13.3 min
25 GB
33.3 min
50 GB
1.1 hrs
100 GB
2.2 hrs
1 TB
22.2 hrs
Internet Speed Comparison Table
Mbps vs MBps: Understanding the Difference
The Key Formula
1 Byte = 8 Bits → MBps = Mbps ÷ 8
Mb (lowercase b) = Megabits — used for internet/network speed
MB (uppercase B) = Megabytes — used for file sizes and storage
Example: 100 Mbps internet = 12.5 MBps actual download speed
Why ISPs use Mbps: Bigger numbers look better in marketing (100 Mbps sounds faster than 12.5 MBps)
Bandwidth Requirements for Streaming
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bandwidth?
Bandwidth is the maximum data transfer rate of a network connection, measured in bits per second (bps). Higher bandwidth means more data can be transferred simultaneously. Common units: Kbps (kilobits), Mbps (megabits), Gbps (gigabits).
What is the difference between Mbps and MBps?
Mbps = Megabits per second (lowercase b) — used for internet speed. MBps = Megabytes per second (uppercase B) — used for file transfer. 1 MBps = 8 Mbps. A 100 Mbps connection transfers at 12.5 MBps.
What is the difference between bandwidth and speed?
Bandwidth is the maximum capacity (like a highway's number of lanes). Speed is the actual transfer rate (like the car's velocity). Bandwidth sets the upper limit; actual speed depends on latency, congestion, and other factors.
How fast is 100 Mbps internet?
100 Mbps = 12.5 MBps. Download times: 1 GB file ≈ 80 seconds, 4K movie (15 GB) ≈ 20 minutes, 100 GB game ≈ 2.2 hours. Sufficient for 4K streaming, gaming, and multiple devices.
How fast is 1 Gbps internet?
1 Gbps = 125 MBps. Download times: 1 GB file ≈ 8 seconds, 4K movie ≈ 2 minutes, 100 GB game ≈ 13 minutes. Ideal for large households, 4K/8K streaming, and heavy downloads.
How do I convert Mbps to MBps?
Divide by 8. Mbps ÷ 8 = MBps. Examples: 100 Mbps = 12.5 MBps, 50 Mbps = 6.25 MBps, 1000 Mbps = 125 MBps. This is because 1 byte = 8 bits.
How much bandwidth do I need?
1-2 users, basic browsing: 25-50 Mbps. Family streaming: 50-100 Mbps. Gaming + 4K streaming: 100-300 Mbps. Large household/work from home: 300-500 Mbps. Heavy users: 500 Mbps - 1 Gbps.
What bandwidth is needed for video streaming?
SD (480p): 3-4 Mbps. HD (720p): 5-8 Mbps. Full HD (1080p): 8-12 Mbps. 4K UHD: 25-35 Mbps. 8K: 50-100 Mbps. These are per-stream requirements.
Why is my actual speed slower than advertised?
ISPs advertise 'up to' speeds. Actual speeds depend on: network congestion, Wi-Fi vs ethernet, router quality, distance from server, number of connected devices, time of day, and protocol overhead (~5-10% loss).
What is latency vs bandwidth?
Bandwidth = how much data per second (like pipe width). Latency = how long data takes to arrive (like pipe length). High bandwidth + low latency = ideal. Gaming needs low latency (<30ms); streaming needs high bandwidth.
Disclaimer: Transfer times are theoretical maximums. Actual speeds depend on network conditions, protocol overhead, server capacity, and other factors.