What internet speed do I need for gaming?

Each person gaming online needs at least 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps download and 5 Mbps to 20 Mbps upload speeds. The game type, the number of players and devices involved, and internet latency will be your greatest concerns when selecting an internet speed for gaming.

For the best experience, we recommend Gigabit internet on a cable or fiber connection with a gaming router to prioritize network traffic.

 
In this article, we’ll look at the different speeds available to help you determine the best speed for your gaming needs.

A good internet speed that is ideal for your gaming needs depends on the type of game, the gaming platform and the gaming device used.

The minimum internet speeds for different gaming devices include:

• • PC gaming: 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps
  • Console gaming: 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps
  • Mobile gaming: 5 Mbps to 10 Mbps
  • VR gaming: 225 Mbps to 400 Mbps

Remember, these are minimum speed requirements, and the needs of specific devices can vary based on the type of game.

To maximize internet speeds for the best gaming performance, connect your devices directly to the router using an Ethernet cable or, better yet, get a dedicated gaming router. When gaming on a mobile device, you can improve mobile data speeds to get the best mobile gaming experience.

 
Let’s break down what different internet speed ranges can help you achieve.

This is a Gigabit internet speed range that is suitable for heavy internet usage and multiple users and devices.

For example, in a household with six users, a Gigabit connection provides enough speed and bandwidth to support tasks such as:

• • Users A and B are gaming online on separate consoles: 200 Mbps
  • User C is on VR gaming: 400 Mbps
  • User D is streaming 4K content on a desktop: 100 Mbps
  • User E is gaming on a mobile device: 10 Mbps

Aside from gaming, other activities might be taking place in the background, such as:

• • Six devices are streaming content at 25 Mbps each: 150 Mbps
  • Users E and F are working online from home: 200 Mbps
  • Smart devices connected: 100 Mbps

In the scenario above, the total speed required to facilitate these tasks is around 1.16 Gbps. To account for unexpected guests, increased gaming demands or other additional online activities, consider higher speeds like 1200 Mbps internet to handle these activities sufficiently.

Speeds of 300 Mbps to 600 Mbps are enough to handle moderate gaming requirements.

For example, in a household of three to five users, this range can support the following tasks:

• • User A playing on a gaming console: 100 Mbps
  • User B and C gaming on a separate PCs: 40 Mbps
  • User C live streaming 4K content: 100 Mbps

In the background, other activities using the internet may include:

• • User D working from home: 100 Mbps
  • Four devices streaming music and videos at 25 Mbps each: 100 Mbps
  • User E learning remotely: 25 Mbps
  • Smart devices connected: 100 Mbps

The total internet speed required for the tasks above is 565 Mbps. If you are concerned about multiple users, devices or increased activities straining your internet, consider gigabit internet speeds to accommodate additional users or tasks when needed.

A 100 Mbps internet connection can handle some gaming activities for one or two users in a household.

With 100 Mbps speeds, you can:

• • Download game files and updates.
  • Play games on mobile devices or moderate-paced online multiplayer and RPG games.
  • Stream some gameplay content to audiences.

Consider higher speed plans if you’re a competitive gamer or professionally stream 4K and 8K gaming content to audiences. Higher speed plans will provide good connection speeds and bandwidth to improve your gaming experience, as well as that of your audience.

In live streaming, upload speed is critical because data is transmitted from your device(s) to the streaming server. Upload speed determines how reliable, clear and audible your stream is to your online audience.

Live streamers can achieve high upload speeds through a symmetrical internet connection with equal download and upload speeds. For example, 600 Mbps internet offers 600 Mbps download and 600 Mbps upload speeds.

A symmetrical internet connection offers high upload speeds and bandwidth to facilitate smooth, high-quality streaming on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Discord or Meta in real time.

Learn more: How to stream full-time as a college student.

Deciding on which speed to select for your gaming requirements can differ if you live in an apartment or a house. Let’s look at the factors that impact your speed selection.

Choosing the best internet speed for your gaming needs in an apartment is dependent on a few factors, including:

• Number of users and devices connected: Consider 100 Mbps to 300 Mbps for one or two users. Check out higher speed tiers if you have more users with multiple devices each.
• Distance from the router: Place your WiFi setup centrally to ensure an even space from all your devices.
• Network congestion: Apartments frequently share internet infrastructure, which leads to network congestion and slower speeds during peak hours.

 
Learn more: How to set up your internet and WiFi in a new apartment

Houses generally hold more users and devices connected to the internet. Consider the following factors when selecting an ideal speed:

• • Number of users and devices connected: Consider a high-speed gigabit internet plan to handle multiple users sufficiently.
  • Home size and layout: Large houses may have some areas of the house with poor internet coverage. Consider introducing mesh WiFi routers to expand your WiFi coverage and optimize internet performance.

 
Learn more: How to set up internet and WiFi in a new house.

A slow internet speed can cause less responsive character movements or poor stream quality when gaming and streaming online. Fortunately, there are several ways you can optimize your WiFi speeds to improve your internet speeds for gaming.

Three ways to optimize your WiFi speeds include:

• Position your router strategically
  Placing your router in the center of your home can improve WiFi coverage and reduce dead zones.

  However, consider a dedicated gaming router to provide the best gaming internet allocation experience for your game setup.

• Upgrade to faster internet
  Upgrade to gigabit internet speeds with enough bandwidth and high upload speeds for an optimal internet speed for gaming, enabling high-quality streaming and reduced lag when playing.
• Power cycle your internet equipment
  Power cycling your devices resets the connections between your devices and the network. Regular device and router restarting can reduce latency in the network and clear blocked channels that interfere with your WiFi performance.