UK broadband speed test

Free UK speed test in your browser. Check download speed, latency, and jitter in under a minute.

No sign-up. No ads. UK-focused guidance. Results shown in your browser. Methodology and privacy.

Built by the team at FBRE.uk and SearchSwitchSave to give UK homes a plain-English speed check.

Free to run
UK-focused guidance
No account needed
Download, latency, jitter

Result mode:

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).

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.
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.

How to read your speed result quickly

Your result gives three useful signals: download speed for capacity, latency for responsiveness, and jitter for connection stability. Run at least two tests at the time you usually see problems before deciding what to do next.

Download (Mbps): capacity for streaming, files, and busy homes.
Latency (ms): response delay for gaming and calls; lower is better.
Jitter (ms): consistency of delay; lower is steadier for voice and video.

UK broadband speed facts

Ofcom reports UK fixed broadband download averages in the low-80 Mbps range (2024 reporting cycle). Use this as a benchmark, then compare your home at your busiest time.

See UK Broadband Speed Statistics & Benchmarks

Understanding your result

Tailored summary after your test

After each test, Pulse shows a plain-English verdict based on your median download speed, latency, and jitter, plus one practical next step.

Run the test above to see your tailored verdict here.

What to do next

After your test, start with one of these.

Rerun the test — especially if the tab was in the background or something else was using the line.
Pause other activity — cloud sync, updates, and large downloads can distort results.
Test at another time of day — for example when streaming or calls usually struggle.
Compare Wi-Fi and Ethernet on a laptop if you can; big gaps often point to wireless layout.
Use the accurate-test checklist before escalating.
Speak to your provider if repeated fair tests stay poor; use UK rights guidance.

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 published by SearchSwitchSave.com. It is led by Dr Alex J Martin-Smith and 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.