How to Test Your Internet Speed
Quick Answer: For the most accurate speed test, connect your computer directly to your modem or router via Ethernet cable, close all other applications and browser tabs, and run tests on at least 3 different testing platforms: Speedtest by Ookla (speedtest.net), Fast.com (by Netflix), and your ISP's own speed test. Test at different times of day to identify peak-hour slowdowns.
Best Speed Testing Tools
| Tool | URL | Tests | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedtest by Ookla | speedtest.net | Download, upload, ping, jitter | Most comprehensive results |
| Fast.com | fast.com | Download, upload, latency | Netflix throughput (unloaded) |
| Google Speed Test | Search "speed test" | Download, upload | Quick check, no app needed |
| Cloudflare Speed Test | speed.cloudflare.com | Download, upload, latency, jitter | Detailed network diagnostics |
| Waveform Speed Test | waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat-test | Download, upload, bufferbloat | Detecting bufferbloat issues |
How to Get Accurate Results
Speed test accuracy depends heavily on your testing conditions. Follow these steps for the most reliable measurements:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection. Wi-Fi introduces variability that does not reflect your actual internet speed. Connect your computer directly to your router or modem with an Ethernet cable. If your speeds are significantly faster on Ethernet than Wi-Fi, the bottleneck is your wireless setup, not your ISP.
- Close all applications. Cloud sync services (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive), streaming video, software updates, and other downloads consume bandwidth and skew results. Close everything except the speed test.
- Disconnect other devices. Or at minimum, ensure no other device is actively streaming, downloading, or video calling during the test.
- Test at multiple times. Run tests at 9 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM, and 10 PM on a weekday to see how speed varies throughout the day. Evening slowdowns (7-10 PM) are common on cable connections due to neighborhood congestion.
- Use multiple testing platforms. Different speed test servers have different routing paths. If Ookla shows 300 Mbps but Fast.com shows 150 Mbps, the difference might indicate ISP throttling of Netflix traffic or simply different server locations. Three or more tests gives you a more complete picture.
Understanding Your Results
Download speed is how fast you receive data. This affects streaming quality, web page loading, and file downloads. Most activities depend primarily on download speed.
Upload speed is how fast you send data. Critical for video calls (Zoom, Teams), cloud backups, and content creation. Cable upload is typically 5-15% of download speed, while fiber offers symmetrical upload.
Ping (latency) is the round-trip time for a data packet in milliseconds. Under 20ms is excellent for gaming. Under 50ms is good for video calls. Over 100ms causes noticeable lag in real-time applications. Learn more in our latency guide.
Jitter is the variation in ping over time. Low jitter (under 10ms) means a consistent connection. High jitter (over 30ms) causes audio/video quality fluctuations during calls and gaming lag spikes.
What Speeds Should You Expect?
ISPs typically advertise "up to" speeds, which represent the maximum under ideal conditions. Reasonable expectations:
| Connection Type | Advertised Speed | Typical Actual Speed | Acceptable Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 300 Mbps | 280-310 Mbps | 90-105% of advertised |
| Cable (off-peak) | 300 Mbps | 250-310 Mbps | 80-100% of advertised |
| Cable (peak hours) | 300 Mbps | 150-280 Mbps | 50-90% of advertised |
| DSL | 50 Mbps | 25-45 Mbps | 50-90% of advertised |
| 5G Home Internet | 245 Mbps (max) | 72-200 Mbps | Highly variable |
What to Do If Speeds Are Low
- Reboot your equipment: Power cycle your modem and router (unplug for 30 seconds, then reconnect). This resolves many temporary speed issues.
- Check for interference: Ensure your router is not near microwaves, Bluetooth devices, or cordless phones that can disrupt Wi-Fi signals.
- Update router firmware: Outdated firmware can cause speed and security issues. Check your router manufacturer's website for updates.
- Test with Ethernet: If Wi-Fi is slow but Ethernet is fast, the issue is your wireless setup, not your ISP. Consider repositioning your router or upgrading to a mesh system.
- Contact your ISP: If wired speeds consistently fall below 70% of your plan's advertised speed, contact your provider. They can run line diagnostics and may need to send a technician to fix signal issues.
For more detailed troubleshooting, see our slow internet troubleshooting guide. If your current provider cannot deliver adequate speeds, explore alternatives and switch to a better provider.
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Beyond Basic Speed Tests: Advanced Diagnostics
A simple speed test tells you your current download and upload speed, but advanced testing provides much deeper insight into your connection quality. These additional tests help diagnose specific issues that basic speed testing misses.
Jitter testing: Jitter measures the variation in your connection's latency over time. Low jitter (under 5ms) means your connection is stable, while high jitter (above 15ms) indicates inconsistency that affects real-time applications like video calls and gaming. You can measure jitter using the Speedtest.net app (it reports jitter alongside ping) or by running a ping test to your provider's server for 100+ packets and checking the variance. High jitter combined with normal speeds often indicates a Wi-Fi issue rather than a provider issue, and switching to a wired connection typically resolves it.
Packet loss testing: Packet loss occurs when data packets fail to reach their destination, causing retransmissions that slow your effective speed and cause visible issues like video call freezing or gaming rubber-banding. Test for packet loss by running a continuous ping to 8.8.8.8 for 5 minutes and noting any lost packets. Zero packet loss is ideal. Above 1% packet loss degrades your experience noticeably, and above 3% makes real-time applications unusable. Packet loss usually indicates a problem with your connection, router, or provider's network that should be reported for troubleshooting.
Multi-point testing: Run speed tests to servers in different locations to understand whether slow speeds are specific to certain destinations or general. If your speed to a local server is fast but slow to a distant server, the issue may be routing or peering rather than your connection. Run tests to servers in your city, across the country, and to international locations. Consistent speeds across all locations indicate a healthy connection. Significant speed drops to specific locations suggest routing issues that your provider may be able to address.
Interpreting Your Speed Test Results
Raw speed numbers mean nothing without context. Understanding what your results actually indicate helps you determine whether you are getting good service or need to take action.
What percentage of advertised speed should you expect? You should consistently receive 80-100% of your plan's advertised download speed when testing over a wired connection during non-peak hours. If you are getting 70-80%, your connection is underperforming slightly but within normal bounds. Below 70% consistently indicates a problem that warrants a call to your provider. Over Wi-Fi, expect 50-85% of wired speeds depending on your router quality, distance, and interference levels.
Upload speed expectations: Cable internet upload speeds are typically 3-10% of download speeds (a 300 Mbps download plan may provide only 10-20 Mbps upload). Fiber plans deliver symmetrical or near-symmetrical upload speeds. If your upload speed is significantly below your plan's specifications, this is often due to a modem or line issue that your provider's technical support can diagnose. Our upload vs download guide explains how upload affects different activities.
When to run tests for accurate results: Run tests at multiple times throughout the day: early morning (6-8 AM), midday (12-2 PM), early evening (5-7 PM), and peak evening (8-10 PM). The comparison reveals whether your connection suffers from peak-hour congestion. A significant speed drop during peak hours (more than 30% below off-peak) suggests your provider's local node is congested, which is a problem on their end, not yours.
Speed Test Mistakes That Give Inaccurate Results
Many people get misleading speed test results due to testing methodology errors. Avoid these common mistakes to ensure your tests accurately reflect your connection's capability.
Testing over Wi-Fi instead of ethernet: Wi-Fi adds variability and typically delivers 50-85% of your wired speed. Always run at least one test over a direct ethernet connection to your modem or router for an accurate baseline. If wired speeds are fast but Wi-Fi speeds are slow, the issue is your Wi-Fi setup, not your internet service. See our home network guide for Wi-Fi optimization tips.
Running tests during active downloads: A speed test while someone is streaming Netflix, downloading a game, or backing up to the cloud will show reduced speeds because the available bandwidth is being shared. Close all applications and pause all downloads before running a speed test. Better yet, disconnect all other devices from your network temporarily for the most accurate result.
Using only one speed test server: Different speed test servers can show different results. Run tests using at least three different tools: Speedtest.net (tests to nearby server), Fast.com (tests to Netflix servers), and your ISP's own speed test tool. If results are consistent across all three, you have an accurate picture. If one tool shows significantly different results, it may indicate routing issues to that specific server rather than a general speed problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my speed test different from my plan speed?
ISPs advertise "up to" speeds that represent maximum capability under ideal conditions. Real-world speeds are affected by network congestion, Wi-Fi interference, device limitations, and distance from your ISP's equipment. Fiber typically delivers 90-100% of advertised speed, while cable may deliver 50-90% during peak hours.
Which speed test is most accurate?
No single test is definitively most accurate. Speedtest by Ookla uses the closest server for peak throughput measurements. Fast.com simulates Netflix traffic patterns. Cloudflare provides the most detailed diagnostics. Running all three and averaging the results gives the most reliable picture of your actual speeds.
How often should I test my internet speed?
Test monthly as a baseline check, and whenever you notice performance issues. If you recently started a new plan, test daily for the first week to establish a performance baseline. Keep a log of results with dates and times to identify patterns and support any complaints to your ISP.
Do speed tests use data from my data cap?
Yes. Each speed test downloads and uploads approximately 200-500 MB of data. If you run 5 tests per day, that is about 1-2.5 GB daily or 30-75 GB per month, which is a small but non-zero portion of a 1 TB data cap. Occasional testing has negligible impact on data usage.
Can my ISP detect when I run a speed test?
Some ISPs can detect Ookla speed tests and theoretically prioritize that traffic to show better results (called "speed boost"). This is why testing on multiple platforms (including Fast.com and Cloudflare) is important. If Ookla shows 300 Mbps but other tests show 150 Mbps, your ISP may be artificially boosting speed test traffic.
How often should I test my internet speed?
Run a comprehensive speed test once per month during peak hours (8-10 PM) and non-peak hours (midday) to establish a performance trend. Test immediately after any equipment changes, provider plan changes, or when you notice performance issues. Keep a simple log of your results (date, time, download, upload, ping) to identify gradual degradation over time. If speeds consistently decline over several months, you have documented evidence to present when contacting your provider for troubleshooting or requesting a service call.
Why does my speed test show fast speeds but my internet feels slow?
This common disconnect has several explanations. Speed tests measure raw throughput to a nearby server, which does not reflect the experience of loading websites that pull content from multiple servers worldwide. High latency, high jitter, or packet loss can make a fast connection feel sluggish without affecting speed test results. DNS resolution delays can also cause perceived slowness. Additionally, if your device has malware, excessive browser extensions, or insufficient RAM, the bottleneck is your device rather than your internet connection. Try testing on a different device to isolate whether the issue is device-specific.
Is there a difference between Mbps and MBps on speed tests?
Yes, and this is one of the most confusing aspects of internet speed measurement. Mbps (megabits per second) is the standard unit for internet speed and what providers advertise. MBps (megabytes per second) is 8 times larger and is what file download progress typically shows. So a 200 Mbps connection downloads files at about 25 MBps. When comparing your speed test results to your file download speeds, divide the Mbps by 8 to get the expected MBps download rate. If your speed test shows 200 Mbps and your downloads show 25 MBps, your connection is performing exactly as expected.
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