What Is the Ideal Internet Speed for Streaming and Gaming

Streaming movies and video games requires more bandwidth than other online activities so that media can play without buffering and lagging. Your Internet speed for television streaming and online gaming should meet minimum thresholds for the best experience. Your ideal speed depends on the streaming quality you want and your network type.

Required Internet speed for streaming TV shows and movies

The Internet speed you need for streaming video depends on the video quality — higher-quality videos need faster Internet speeds. Here's a breakdown of the ideal Internet speed for television streaming by resolution:

  • High definition (1080p): The Internet speed required for 1080p streaming is 5 megabits per second (Mbps).

  • 4K (2160p): 4K video streaming needs at least 25 Mbps.

These Internet speeds are the minimum requirements, so if you have several devices online, you may need higher speeds to make sure everyone has a buffer-free streaming experience.

Ideal Internet speed for online gaming

Online video games need a certain Internet bandwidth to support streaming without lagging. The best Internet speed for gaming depends on the resolution and frames per second (FPS) of your games, the level of compression, and the complexity of the game. Here is a guideline to Internet speed for resolution:

  • 720p resolution at 30 FPS: 3 to 6 Mbps

  • 1080p resolution at 30 FPS: 6 to 9 Mbps

  • 1080p resolution at 60 FPS: 9 to 12 Mbps

  • 4K (2160p) resolution at 60 FPS: 25 to 35 Mbps

Why fiber offers the best Internet speed for gaming and streaming

Fiber-optic Internet is the best type of network for streaming and gaming because it offers the high speeds these activities need to play without lagging and buffering. Fiber is the fastest connection type in modern Internet technology. Our network runs at 400 gigabits per second (400,000 Mbps), which is above and beyond the speed you need for video games and movies. Besides streaming in high resolution, our fiber network offers more than enough bandwidth for making video calls, uploading and downloading large files, and more.

A mesh router system can enhance your Wi-Fi coverage and speed, especially if your TVs and computers are far apart in your home. Our Plume SuperPods wirelessly mesh to increase the area of Wi-Fi service, so all your devices can access the Internet. The pods use Plume AI, an artificial intelligence service, to optimize your Internet bandwidth by bumping low-bandwidth devices to other SuperPods.

Check the availability of our fiber network in your area

Planet Networks has a reliable fiber network in locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. Our network offers the fastest Internet speed available, with over 1 gigabyte of upload and download speeds.

Check our availability to see if our fiber network is in your area. If we serve your area, get our top-tier fiber Internet for your business or home today. If we haven't reached your location yet, complete our survey to get notified when our network has expanded.