File transfer time calculator
Find out how long a backup upload, a big download or a USB copy will take. Internet speeds are in megabits (Mbps); file sizes are in megabytes – this does the conversion.
Estimated time:
| Speed | Time for this file |
|---|
Mbps vs MB/s – the factor of 8
Internet plans are sold in megabits per second (Mbps). Files are measured in megabytes (MB). One byte is 8 bits, so a 100 Mbps connection moves at most 12.5 MB per second. That is why a “100 Mb” plan does not download 100 MB per second.
Why use 90% efficiency?
Protocol overhead, Wi-Fi, and the other side's speed mean you rarely get the full rated speed. 85–95% is typical on a good wired connection; Wi-Fi and busy servers can be far lower. Upload speed is often much lower than download speed on home plans – use your upload number for backups.
Uploading a lot to the cloud?
The first full cloud backup of a photo library can take days. Start it on a wired connection, and see the cloud storage cost guide to choose where it goes.
Questions
How long to upload 1 TB at 20 Mbps?
About 4 days 15 hours at 100% efficiency, and around 5 days at 90%. Enter it above to see.
Is USB speed also in MB/s?
Drive speeds are usually given in MB/s. Choose MB/s for copies between drives.