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Download Time Calculator

File size and connection speed in, download time out.

Download time

1:06:40

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All results
At 90% efficiency (typical)1:14:04
In minutes66.7min
Transfer rate12.5MB/s

time = file size in bits ÷ connection speed in bits per second. File sizes use bytes and internet plans use bits, so multiply bytes by 8 first. A 50 GB game on a 100 Mbps connection takes 1 hour 6 minutes 40 seconds at full speed, or about 1 hour 14 minutes in practice.

How it works

time (s) = size (bits) ÷ speed (bits per second)

bits = bytes × 8

Worked example

With a 50 GB file on a 100 Mbps connection:

  1. File size in bits: 50 GB × 8 = 400,000 megabits.
  2. Speed: 100 Mbps = 100 megabits per second.
  3. Time: 400,000 ÷ 100 = 4,000 s (1:06:40).

When you need this conversion

Planning game, OS and video downloads, cloud backups and uploads, and deciding whether an internet upgrade is worth it.

How the calculation works

For 50 GB at 100 Mbps:

  1. 50 GB × 1,000,000,000 = 50,000,000,000 bytes
  2. × 8 = 400,000,000,000 bits
  3. ÷ 100,000,000 bits per second = 4,000 seconds
  4. 4,000 seconds = 1 hour 6 minutes 40 seconds

The calculator also shows a 90% figure, which is closer to what you’ll see on a good wired connection.

Upload vs download

Many plans are asymmetric. A 300/20 Mbps plan downloads 15 times faster than it uploads, so backing up 50 GB takes 5 hours 33 minutes 20 seconds at the full 20 Mbps.

Common mistakes

Mixing GB and GiB. Operating systems sometimes show GiB. A 50 GiB file is 53.69 GB, about 7% more data.

Using MB/s as Mbps. If a speed test or app shows MB/s, choose MB/s in the speed unit menu.

For rate conversions, use Mbps to MB/s.

Questions

How long does 50 GB take at 100 Mbps?

66 minutes 40 seconds in theory; about 74 minutes at a typical 90% efficiency.

How long does 1 GB take at 100 Mbps?

80 seconds at full speed.

Why multiply by 8?

File sizes are in bytes; internet speeds are in bits. One byte is 8 bits.

Why is it slower than the calculation?

Protocol overhead, Wi-Fi, server limits and other devices on your network all reduce real throughput.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-24. How we check values · Report a problem with this page

Further reading