UnitsForPros Unit converters built for the trades

Download time calculator

File sizes are in bytes, connection speeds in bits, that factor of 8 is why downloads "feel slow". This calculator does the conversion for you.

1 min 20 sec Theoretical minimum for the values below, real downloads run 5–15% slower.

Data-unit converters

Every size at every speed

Each cell links to a full page with the calculator, real-world estimate, and FAQ.

Size ↓ / Speed → 5 Mbps10 Mbps25 Mbps50 Mbps100 Mbps200 Mbps300 Mbps500 Mbps1 Gbps
100 MB 2 min 40 sec 1 min 20 sec 32 sec 16 sec 8 sec 4 sec 3 sec 2 sec under 1 second
250 MB 6 min 40 sec 3 min 20 sec 1 min 20 sec 40 sec 20 sec 10 sec 7 sec 4 sec 2 sec
500 MB 13 min 20 sec 6 min 40 sec 2 min 40 sec 1 min 20 sec 40 sec 20 sec 13 sec 8 sec 4 sec
1 GB 26 min 40 sec 13 min 20 sec 5 min 20 sec 2 min 40 sec 1 min 20 sec 40 sec 27 sec 16 sec 8 sec
2 GB 53 min 20 sec 26 min 40 sec 10 min 40 sec 5 min 20 sec 2 min 40 sec 1 min 20 sec 53 sec 32 sec 16 sec
5 GB 2 hr 13 min 20 sec 1 hr 6 min 40 sec 26 min 40 sec 13 min 20 sec 6 min 40 sec 3 min 20 sec 2 min 13 sec 1 min 20 sec 40 sec
10 GB 4 hr 26 min 40 sec 2 hr 13 min 20 sec 53 min 20 sec 26 min 40 sec 13 min 20 sec 6 min 40 sec 4 min 27 sec 2 min 40 sec 1 min 20 sec
20 GB 8 hr 53 min 20 sec 4 hr 26 min 40 sec 1 hr 46 min 40 sec 53 min 20 sec 26 min 40 sec 13 min 20 sec 8 min 53 sec 5 min 20 sec 2 min 40 sec
50 GB 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 11 hr 6 min 40 sec 4 hr 26 min 40 sec 2 hr 13 min 20 sec 1 hr 6 min 40 sec 33 min 20 sec 22 min 13 sec 13 min 20 sec 6 min 40 sec
100 GB 1 day 20 hr 26 min 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 8 hr 53 min 20 sec 4 hr 26 min 40 sec 2 hr 13 min 20 sec 1 hr 6 min 40 sec 44 min 27 sec 26 min 40 sec 13 min 20 sec
250 GB 4 days 15 hr 6 min 2 days 7 hr 33 min 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 11 hr 6 min 40 sec 5 hr 33 min 20 sec 2 hr 46 min 40 sec 1 hr 51 min 7 sec 1 hr 6 min 40 sec 33 min 20 sec
500 GB 9 days 6 hr 13 min 4 days 15 hr 6 min 1 day 20 hr 26 min 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 11 hr 6 min 40 sec 5 hr 33 min 20 sec 3 hr 42 min 13 sec 2 hr 13 min 20 sec 1 hr 6 min 40 sec
1 TB 18 days 12 hr 26 min 9 days 6 hr 13 min 3 days 16 hr 53 min 1 day 20 hr 26 min 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 11 hr 6 min 40 sec 7 hr 24 min 27 sec 4 hr 26 min 40 sec 2 hr 13 min 20 sec
2 TB 37 days 53 min 18 days 12 hr 26 min 7 days 9 hr 46 min 3 days 16 hr 53 min 1 day 20 hr 26 min 22 hr 13 min 20 sec 14 hr 48 min 53 sec 8 hr 53 min 20 sec 4 hr 26 min 40 sec

Mbps vs MB/s, once and for all

Internet plans are sold in megabits per second (Mbps, small b). File sizes are shown in megabytes (MB, big B). One byte is 8 bits, so a 100 Mbps connection moves at most 12.5 MB of file data per second, divide your plan speed by 8 to get the number your download manager shows.

That factor of 8 is why a "100 meg" plan doesn't download a 100 MB file in one second: it needs 8 seconds in theory, and a little more in practice once protocol overhead (typically 5–15%), Wi-Fi conditions, and server limits are counted.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my download slower than my plan speed?

Two reasons. First, plans are sold in megabits per second while download managers show megabytes per second, divide by 8. Second, protocol overhead, Wi-Fi, and server limits typically cost another 5–15%.

How is download time calculated?

time = file size in bits ÷ connection speed in bits per second. A 1 GB file is 8,000,000,000 bits; at 100 Mbps that is 80 seconds.

Do these times include upload speed?

No, downloads only use download bandwidth. Upload speed matters for video calls, backups, and sending files; it is usually much lower than the advertised download figure.