What are Good Speeds for Internet if You’re Working from Home?

Matthew Harrington
Internet Provider Comparisons

It’s hard to imagine life at home without the internet. We use it for everything: streaming TV, playing music, gaming, Googling things and working remotely. Before COVID-19, remote work was on the rise. But now, millions are working from their home offices.

Whilst buffering video games or Netflix shows is frustrating, losing work or connection during a Zoom call is unprofessional and feels career-damaging.

When your performance depends on the quality of your internet, the question “what are good speeds for internet?” is vital.

HomeLinkd is committed to helping you find the best internet plan for remote work. Find out what internet speed is adequate and calculate your current connection to see if it's up to par.

What kind of internet plan does a remote worker need?

Remaining professional at home is tricky. But regardless of your home office attire or unusual work hours, having good internet makes it easier to perform and get your work done on time.

When it comes to choosing an internet plan for your job, there are four factors to consider — speed, consistency, range, and customer support.

Speed

For the most part, the higher your internet speed, the better the quality.

Internet speed is calculated in Mbps, or megabits per second, and there are two speeds to consider — download speed and upload speed. When downloading documents or uploading renders, you need a good combination of the two.

The required download speed for most apps is higher than the required upload speed. Think of yourself on a Zoom call — your internet will need to download the data of your colleagues’ videos and audios and your boss’ PowerPoint presentation. But will only need to upload the data of one voice and one face; your own.

Consistency

Sometimes the service of your internet provider can be at fault, so be sure to research your chosen internet company. Check out the reviews first before signing up.

Read more about testing your consistency.

There’s no point in having fast internet if your connection keeps dipping and disrupting your work. When working remotely, reliability and consistency are as vital to think about.

Consistency issues are often linked to:

  • Problems in your Local Area Network (LAN), like faulty cables·
  • Wi-Fi access points on your modem being unresponsive or “dead”·
  • Connecting to the incorrect access point (WAP)

Sometimes the service of your internet provider can be at fault, so be sure to research your chosen internet company. Check out the reviews first before signing up.

Range

There’s nothing worse than moving upstairs for a change-of-scenery, only for you to lose signal. Measured in decibels per milliwatt (dBm), range is over-technical and expressed in negative values.

Get your internet providers to explain the range in your household, especially if your home is large, fairly separate, or has many bedrooms.

Customer service and support

Waiting hours for a technician to come and fix the problem with your Wi-Fi can result in lost time, money, clients, reputation, and your sanity. Receiving quick and stress-free customer support from your service provider is priceless in the remote-working world.

What is good home internet speed?

For glitch-free calls, instant emails, or transferring Slack data, researchers at San Francisco State University found that at least 20 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds are needed. If you have multiple devices, you'll need even more.

Is 50 Mbps fast?

A download speed of 50 Mbps is considered “good”.

In fact, 25 Mbps is the minimum speed required for streaming in HD or 4K and will suffice for one person on a video call at a time.

50 Mbps is more suitable for a couple or small family, who each spend a standard amount of time on the internet.

Is 100 Mbps a good internet speed?

100 Mbps is an even better internet speed, especially if you live with more than two people.

Since internet users today are connected constantly, fast speeds are a necessity for more and more households.

Is 200 Mbps fast?

200 Mbps is a great internet speed and more than enough for a household of <5 people.

Emailing large files, streaming seamless HD video, and clear and crisp conference calling is probable.

The Columbia University Working from Home guide puts it best: “If you can stream Netflix successfully, you can use Zoom successfully.”

How do you work out your current Internet speed?

To find out both your download and upload speeds, conduct a live test online. There are many and they're free.

When running the test, you’ll need to be connected to your internet and willing to share your IP address.

Try All Connects Internet Speed Recommendations.

The best home Internet plans for working from home

While fast internet speeds are the smart option, also consider your budget, home size, type of work, and your area.

HomeLinkd has a range of options to suit a variety of remote working situations, with internet speeds ranging from 6 Mbps to 1000 Mbps.

Compare our service providers..

Written by:
Matthew Harrington

I’m Matthew, your go-to tech enthusiast who loves diving deep into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of all things technology. My day job? Breaking down complex systems so you don’t have to! When I’m not geeking out over the latest gadgets, you’ll find me exploring new coding languages or reading about future tech trends. I believe every technical problem has a solution, and I’m here to guide you through them, step by step.

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