What Internet Speed Do You Need to Work From Home?

• The FCC’s new benchmark recommends 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speeds for good internet.
• Speed requirements vary by task, but some activities, such as video calling, need higher upload speeds to function.
• Slow internet or disconnected calls often can be fixed with simple troubleshooting like restarting your router.

Working from home has become a growing reality for many workers, rising from 7 percent of the workforce in 2015 to 28 percent in 2023. Whether you’re experienced or new to the world of remote work, reliable internet is essential. You need speeds fast enough to handle online activities such as video conferencing, file sharing and customer management, but the requirements might be lower than you think. If you’re sizing up your internet for a work-from-home (WFH) setup or troubleshooting slow internet issues, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will give you all the information you need on internet speeds for working from home.

Overview of Work From Home Internet Speeds

1. Speeds Needed for Common Work-From-Home Activities
2. Best Types of Internet to Work From Home
3. Slow Internet Troubleshooting While Working From Home

Speeds Needed for Common Work-From-Home Activities

The table below shows the most common work-from-home activities and the minimum download and upload speed required for these programs to run on your home computer. However, if you want decent performance for all of your work activities, including the ability to run multiple programs or have more than one person working in your household, you’re going to want an internet plan that provides at least 25 Mbps download speed.

Your exact speed requirements are going to depend on what programs you use for your job. A worker sending an email and using Microsoft Office will have lower requirements than someone who edits and uploads YouTube videos for a living. To help you get a better sense of what you need, consider which activities you regularly do in your remote work.

Cloud Collaboration (Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365)

Cloud collaboration tools like Microsoft Office require download and upload speeds of 1 Mbps to be sufficient for real-time document editing and syncing. While not bandwidth-heavy, faster internet can improve performance when working with large files or multiple users accessing documents simultaneously.

CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms usually require download and upload speeds of at least 1 Mbps, but some require more. Salesforce, for example, recommends a minimum of 3 Mbps download speed. These systems retrieve customer data, log interactions and manage workflows, which are low-bandwidth tasks, but they may need higher speeds for large data transfers or system integrations.

File Sharing (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)

File sharing typically demands more upload bandwidth; a minimum of 10 Mbps upload speed is recommended for uploading files to cloud sharing applications like Google Drive. While only 1 Mbps download speed is required, faster upload speeds ensure quicker synchronization, especially for large media files or collaborative projects.

Project Management (Trello, Asana, Monday.com)

Project management tools are relatively lightweight, requiring only 0.5 Mbps download and upload speeds for basic functions, and most have an offline mode as well. These platforms focus on task assignments, updates and timelines but can also integrate with more demanding apps. That’s why some of them, like Monday.com, recommend at least 5 Mbps download speed for smooth functionality of all features.

Screen Sharing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet)

Screen sharing requires at least 2 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. Minimum listed requirements for screen sharing on apps like Zoom are 50 Kbps to 150 Kbps, but you may still run into problems at that speed. Higher upload speeds are crucial for sending high-quality visuals and ensuring clarity and smooth interactions during long meetings or training sessions.

Team Messaging (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord)

Team messaging platforms are low-bandwidth tools, requiring only 0.3 Mbps download and upload speeds. Since these apps are mostly text-based, higher speeds usually aren’t necessary unless you’re frequently sharing large files or media within your conversations. However, if you are using tools like Slack for group calling, you’ll likely need at least 2 Mbps download and upload speeds.

Time Tracking (Toggl, Clockify, Harvest)

Time-tracking apps require only 0.3 Mbps download speed, and some, like Toggl for example, can track offline and sync your reports later. These tools use a simple clock to track work hours and log data in the background, so high speeds aren’t needed.

Video Conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams)

Video conferencing is one of the most bandwidth-intensive work-from-home activities. It requires a minimum of 0.6 Mbps download and 3.2 Mbps upload, but more is better. Google Meet, for example, recommends at least 3.2 Mbps upload and download speeds. High upload speeds are essential for transmitting your video and audio in high quality without interruptions, especially in group calls or HD video streams.

Web Browsing (Chrome, Firefox)

Web browsing requires a modest 0.5 Mbps download speed, which is sufficient for most text-based web pages. Higher speeds will improve performance when browsing multimedia-heavy sites or doing research that requires loading multiple web pages simultaneously.

On an average workday, you may be running several of these programs at once. That’s why a plan that offers more speed than you need is important to prevent interruptions and keep you working efficiently. In order to compare your current internet speed to the requirements for your work activities, you need to know what speed you’re getting in real-time.

Best Types of Internet to Work From Home

Fiber internet is the best choice for remote work, particularly for activities where upload speed is important, such as video conferencing, cloud-based collaboration and file sharing. Fiber offers symmetrical download and upload speeds, making it ideal for sending large files or broadcasting live video. Major fiber internet providers like Google Fiber, Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber offer gigabit internet speeds.

If fiber isn’t an option in your area, cable internet is a solid alternative. It offers fast download speeds but much slower uploads. Even with lower upload speeds, however, major cable providers such as Xfinity and Spectrum are more than sufficient for most work-from-home activities like web browsing and cloud collaboration.

If you choose an ISP that offers anything other than fiber internet, be aware of data caps. ISPs can throttle your speeds if you exceed the monthly limit.

Slow Internet Troubleshooting While Working From Home

Slow internet can put a damper on your day, not to mention make working from home impossible. There could be a number of reasons why you’re experiencing slow internet, but most of the time it’s one of a few common problems. If you’re experiencing slow internet during your work day, here are some simple fixes to try.

Change From Wi-Fi to an Ethernet Cable

Interference or distance from the router can weaken Wi-Fi signals, but a wired connection ensures consistent speeds. If you’re experiencing speed issues related to your Wi-Fi signal, try plugging your computer directly into the router using an Ethernet cable for a more stable connection.

Move Closer to Your Router

The weaker your Wi-Fi signal, the slower your internet speed. Physical obstacles like walls and furniture can interfere with the signal. Moving closer to your router improves signal strength for a faster and more reliable connection.

Update Your Operating System

An outdated operating system can slow down all of your computer’s functions, including internet performance. OS updates contain performance enhancements and security patches. To check for updates, go to the Update & Security or General section of your system settings.

Close Other Applications

Running too many applications can overload your processor. Close any unnecessary programs, especially those that use a lot of data, like streaming services or cloud backup applications, to improve your computer’s overall performance.

Restart Your Internet

Restarting your router and modem can help resolve temporary glitches or memory overloads. Just unplug the device, wait 30 seconds and plug it back in.

Turn Off Your VPN

While a Virtual Private Network (VPN) offers extra security and bypasses internet roadblocks, it can slow down your internet speed by routing traffic through its servers. If speed is a priority, disabling your VPN can improve your connection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Speeds for Working From Home

Do I need business internet for better speeds at home?

Business internet offers similar speeds as residential plans but comes with additional benefits, such as a more stable connection and priority customer support. Business internet may be overkill unless you need guaranteed uptime or symmetrical speeds for heavy tasks like video production or hosting a server. For most work-from-home employees, a high-speed residential internet plan is sufficient.

Can I work from home without Wi-Fi?

You can connect your computer directly to the router using an Ethernet cable, which is usually more stable than Wi-Fi. If you find yourself without internet, you can use a personal hotspot to connect to your mobile data for work. This may be slower or come with data limits but can be used for most tasks in a pinch.

Why is my internet slow during video calls or online meetings?

Slow internet during video calls is often due to slow upload speeds, network congestion or high bandwidth use by other devices in your home. Other factors such as an overloaded router, VPN use or internet slowdowns during peak hours can also affect performance.

How much bandwidth do I need if multiple people are working from home simultaneously?

For a household with multiple people working, aim for an internet plan with 100 Mbps download speed. If multiple people are video conferencing or uploading large files at the same time, look for at least 20 Mbps upload speed.

Why do I experience internet slowdowns during peak hours?

Internet slowdowns during peak hours are caused by network congestion when many people in your area are using the internet at the same time. This is common with cable and DSL connections, which share bandwidth with nearby users, but fiber internet avoids this issue.