UK broadband speed test

UKSpeedTest.co.uk is a free browser-based UK broadband speed test that measures download speed, latency, and jitter. It does not currently measure upload speed, and results are shown in your browser without creating an account. The tool is designed for quick checks, practical interpretation, and repeat testing at different times.

Free UK broadband speed test. Measures download speed, latency, and jitter. Results in about a minute.

About this test

In summary: This page runs a free UK broadband speed test (Pulse). It helps UK households and small businesses check their download speed, latency and connection reliability.

Free, client-side test: no account required.
Measures download speed (Mbps), latency (ms) and jitter.
We show the median as the headline number.
Approximate location is from your IP only; we do not store it.
For best accuracy, use an Ethernet cable to your router.

How to get a reliable test: Use an Ethernet cable if you can. Pause other downloads and streaming. Run the test at different times. Keep the tab in the foreground.

Ready when you are.

0.00 Mbps

Speed, Latency, Jitter, Advanced Location, Times

⬆️ Highest Speed (i) The fastest single result in your test runs.	Mbps
⬇️ Lowest Speed (i) The slowest single result in your test runs.	Mbps
⚖️ Mean (Average) (i) The sum of all speeds divided by the number of runs.	Mbps
🔁 Mode (Most Frequent) (i) The most commonly occurring speed among your runs.	Mbps
〰️ Median (i) The middle value when all speeds are sorted in order.	Mbps
📡 Latency (i) Latency is the round-trip time (in milliseconds) for a data packet to travel from your device to a server and back. For UK broadband, lower latency means a more responsive connection. For example: • Fibre & 5G: Excellent performance usually means latency below 30 ms. • Cable: Good performance is typically in the 30–50 ms range. • Copper (DSL): Often sees latencies between 50–100 ms, which can be noticeable during gaming or video calls. Latency above 100 ms may cause delays in real-time activities like online gaming or video conferencing.	ms
🔀 Jitter (i) Jitter is the variation in latency over time—essentially, how consistent your connection speed is. Even if the average latency is low, high jitter can cause issues with data arriving out of order. For UK connections: • Fibre & 5G: Ideally keep jitter below 5 ms for smooth performance. • Cable: Jitter between 5–15 ms is usually acceptable, though occasional minor disruptions might occur. • Copper or congested 4G: Values above 15 ms can lead to buffering, choppy video, or unstable calls. A steady, low jitter is key for activities like streaming or VoIP, where consistency matters.	ms
🌐 Latitude (i) Approximate latitude based on your IP address.
🌐 Longitude (i) Approximate longitude based on your IP address.
Location (lat/long) is approximate, from your IP only. We do not store this data.
📅 Test Start Time (i) When the speed test began.
⌛ Test End Time (i) When the speed test completed.
⏱️ Test Duration (i) Total time from start to finish (in seconds and minutes).

What this test is best for

Checking your current download speed in Mbps under normal household conditions.
Checking responsiveness for calls and gaming using latency and jitter in ms.
Comparing results by time of day, device type, and Wi-Fi versus Ethernet setup.

What this test does not do

It does not currently measure upload speed.
It does not certify guaranteed provider performance.
It does not store your test results server-side.

How to run an accurate broadband speed test

Use Ethernet where possible. If using Wi-Fi, stay close to your router.
Pause large downloads, cloud sync, and streaming on other devices.
Run 2 to 3 tests across different times, including evening peak periods.

Full method: How to run an accurate broadband speed test.

Understand your result by common use case

Use case	Practical starting point
Browsing and email	10+ Mbps often feels usable for basic tasks.
HD streaming	25+ Mbps usually supports stable HD viewing.
4K streaming	50+ Mbps is often a safer household target.
Video calls	Stable latency and jitter matter as much as Mbps.
Cloud backups	Download speed helps less than upload, which this tool does not measure.
Gaming	Latency and jitter are usually more important than headline Mbps.

What is a good broadband speed in the UK?

Latency guide

Lower latency (ms) generally means faster response in gaming, voice, and video calls. Consistency matters too, not just one low ping reading.

What is good latency for gaming and video calls?

Jitter guide

Jitter is variation in latency. A lower and steadier jitter score usually means smoother calls, streaming sessions, and online play.

What is jitter and what is a good jitter score?

Why results vary

Results can change due to Wi-Fi signal quality, router capability, background traffic, local network contention, and peak-time demand. Package speed is a maximum line capability, not a guaranteed constant at every moment.

Why is my speed test slower than my package?

Privacy and methodology

Pulse is privacy-led: results are shown in-browser and not stored server-side by this tool.

Result interpreter

After each test, Pulse provides a plain-language interpretation based on your measured download speed, latency, and jitter.

Example result explanations

What does 35 Mbps mean? Often enough for browsing and one HD stream, but households with several active users may still see slowdowns. Read guide
What does 85 ms latency mean? Interactive tasks may feel delayed, especially gaming and real-time calls. Read guide
What does 18 ms jitter mean? Connection timing may be inconsistent, which can affect call smoothness. Read guide

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What does this speed test measure?

It measures your download speed in megabits per second (Mbps), plus latency and jitter. Download speed is how fast data reaches your device. Latency is the round-trip delay in milliseconds. Jitter is the variation in that delay over time.

Is the test free and do you store my results?

Yes, the test is free. Results are shown in your browser only. We do not store your speed results or personal data on our servers for this tool.

Why might my result be lower than my package speed?

Package speed is the maximum your line can support. Actual speed depends on Wi‑Fi, time of day, other devices, and network congestion. For a fair test, use an Ethernet cable and close other apps. If it is still consistently low, contact your provider or consider switching.

What is a good broadband speed in the UK?

Ofcom and others suggest at least 10 Mbps for a typical household (browsing, video, calls). For several users or 4K streaming, 30–100 Mbps or more is often recommended. Full fibre can deliver hundreds of Mbps in many UK areas.

Who runs UKSpeedTest.co.uk?

Pulse is by SearchSwitchSave.com. The site focuses on helping UK consumers and small businesses understand their broadband and find useful information about deals and switching.

Can I use this test on mobile?

Yes. The test runs in your browser on phone or tablet. Bear in mind that mobile and Wi‑Fi speeds are often lower than a wired connection, so results reflect the connection you are using at the time.