Download time calculator
Work out roughly how long a file will take to download at a given speed. Enter the file size, choose MB, GB or TB, then enter a download speed in Mbps (megabits per second).
Enter values and press Estimate time, or pull your last Pulse download speed from this browser.
Uses decimal units (1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes). Actual time varies with Wi-Fi, contention, and the server sending the file.
How this estimate works
We divide file size in bits by your download rate in bits per second (Mbps × 1,000,000). That gives the time if throughput stayed perfectly flat - something real networks rarely do.
Example
At 100 Mbps, a 20 GB game or update download would take about 27 minutes in ideal, steady conditions (decimal GB). In real life, disk writes, server limits, and other traffic often stretch that.
Why actual times vary
Wi-Fi quality, peak-time congestion, antivirus scans, and how fast the source server sends data all change what you see minute to minute. Use the figure as a planning hint, not a promise - especially if your speed test is slower than your package headline.
Related on this site
- Run the Pulse UK broadband speed test
- What speed do I need? (household guide)
- How Pulse measures speed
- What is a good broadband speed in the UK?
- Why is my speed test slower than my package?
- What download speed, latency, and jitter mean
FAQ
How is download time calculated?
Time is file size in bits divided by your download rate in bits per second. This page uses decimal MB/GB/TB and Mbps so the maths lines up with typical UK package numbers.
Why might the real time differ?
Throughput moves with Wi-Fi quality, other devices, routing, and the host server. Treat the answer as a ballpark.
Where can I get a realistic Mbps figure?
Run Pulse on the home page. If you have already run a test in this browser, Use my last Pulse result reads pulseLastDownloadMbps from session storage when present.
Is upload time the same?
No. Many lines are asymmetric: upload Mbps is often lower. Pulse does not measure upload - see our methodology and answers for scope.