Why is my download slower than my plan's advertised speed?
Internet plans are advertised in megabits per second (Mbps), but file sizes are measured in megabytes (MB) — and 1 byte = 8 bits. So a "100 Meg" plan (100 Mbps) downloads at a theoretical maximum of 12.5 MB/s (100 ÷ 8), not counting network loss, bandwidth sharing and protocol overhead, which usually reduce real speed by 10-20%.
How to use it
Enter the file size and your connection speed (you can check this with a speed test) — the calculator estimates download time using the correct bit-to-byte conversion.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my actual download speed lower than what I pay for?
Besides the bit vs. byte difference (the most common source of confusion), real speed is also affected by network congestion, distance to the server, protocol overhead (TCP/IP), Wi-Fi vs. cable, and other devices sharing the same connection at once.
What is the difference between Mbps and MB/s?
Mbps is megabits per second (used to advertise internet plans) and MB/s is megabytes per second (used to measure download sizes) — to convert, divide Mbps by 8 to get MB/s.