Internet Speed for Zoom
Quick Answer: Zoom requires 3.8 Mbps upload and 3.0 Mbps download for a single 1080p video call. Group meetings with 25+ participants need 3.0 Mbps down and 3.8 Mbps up. For reliable performance during important meetings, we recommend at least 25 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speed, with a wired Ethernet connection.
Zoom Official Bandwidth Requirements
Zoom publishes specific bandwidth requirements that vary based on video quality, participant count, and whether screen sharing is active. Upload speed is particularly important for Zoom because you are sending your video feed to other participants, unlike streaming where you only need download speed.
| Meeting Type | Download | Upload | Best Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-on-1 (720p) | 1.8 Mbps | 1.8 Mbps | HD video |
| 1-on-1 (1080p) | 3.0 Mbps | 3.8 Mbps | Full HD video |
| Group call (720p) | 2.6 Mbps | 1.8 Mbps | Gallery view |
| Group call (1080p) | 3.8 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps | Full HD gallery |
| Screen sharing only | 150 Kbps | 150 Kbps | Shared content |
| Screen share + video | 3.8 Mbps | 3.8 Mbps | Video + content |
Why Upload Speed Matters More Than Download for Zoom
Most internet plans offer asymmetric speeds with much higher download than upload. A typical cable plan might deliver 200 Mbps download but only 10 Mbps upload. For Zoom, your upload speed determines the quality of your outgoing video feed. If your upload drops below 1.5 Mbps, Zoom automatically reduces your video quality, often resulting in a grainy, blurry image for other participants.
Fiber internet plans from providers like AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, making them ideal for frequent Zoom users. A 300/300 Mbps fiber plan provides 30 times more upload bandwidth than a comparable cable plan.
Internet Speed Recommendations by Use Case
| Use Case | Min Speed (Down/Up) | Recommended | Key Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasional 1-on-1 calls | 5/5 Mbps | 25/10 Mbps | Reliability |
| Daily team meetings (5-10 people) | 10/5 Mbps | 50/15 Mbps | Upload speed |
| Large meetings (25+ people) | 15/5 Mbps | 50/25 Mbps | Gallery view bandwidth |
| Webinars/presentations | 10/10 Mbps | 50/25 Mbps | Screen share quality |
| Remote work (Zoom + cloud apps) | 25/10 Mbps | 100/25 Mbps | Simultaneous usage |
| Teaching/training (breakout rooms) | 15/10 Mbps | 100/50 Mbps | Sustained quality |
Best Internet Providers for Zoom
AT&T Fiber: The best choice for heavy Zoom users thanks to symmetrical speeds. The 300/300 Mbps plan at $55/month provides massive upload headroom. Even the entry-level fiber plan at 300 Mbps up ensures your Zoom video quality never degrades.
Verizon Fios: Another excellent fiber option with symmetrical speeds starting at 300/300 Mbps for $49.99/month. Verizon Fios consistently ranks among the lowest-latency providers in independent testing, which translates to smoother real-time video communication.
Xfinity: Widely available cable option with plans offering up to 35 Mbps upload on higher tiers. The 400 Mbps plan at $55/month includes enough upload bandwidth for simultaneous Zoom calls, though fiber is preferable if available.
Spectrum: No-contract plans starting at 300/10 Mbps for $49.99/month. The upload speed is adequate for individual Zoom calls but may strain if multiple people in your household are on video calls simultaneously. No data caps is a plus for frequent video conferencing.
Optimizing Your Zoom Connection
Use Ethernet, not Wi-Fi: A wired connection reduces latency by 5-20ms and eliminates the packet loss that causes audio dropouts and video freezing. This is the single most impactful improvement you can make for Zoom quality.
Close bandwidth-heavy apps: Cloud backup services (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive), streaming video on other devices, and large downloads all compete with Zoom for upload bandwidth. Pause these during important meetings.
Position your router strategically: If you must use Wi-Fi, ensure your router is in the same room or one room away with clear line of sight. Walls, floors, and appliances significantly degrade Wi-Fi signal strength and increase latency.
Enable HD video in Zoom settings: Go to Settings > Video > check "HD" to enable 1080p video. This setting is disabled by default and limits you to 720p even if your internet can support higher quality.
Test before important meetings: Use Zoom's built-in network test at zoom.us/test to check your connection quality before a critical presentation or interview. This tests actual Zoom server connectivity, not just raw speed.
Zoom vs. Other Video Platforms
Different video conferencing platforms have different bandwidth needs. Microsoft Teams requires similar bandwidth to Zoom but uses more CPU resources. Google Meet is slightly more efficient at lower bandwidths. If you use multiple platforms, plan for the highest requirement among them.
For a broader view of work-from-home internet needs beyond video calls, see our guide on internet speed for working from home.
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Zoom Quality Settings and Their Bandwidth Impact
Zoom offers several quality modes that dramatically affect bandwidth consumption. Understanding these options lets you optimize for your specific meeting types and internet capacity.
Audio-only calls: Zoom audio uses only 0.06-0.08 Mbps per participant. Even the slowest internet connection handles audio Zoom calls without issue. If your internet is struggling, switching to audio-only mode immediately resolves quality problems while keeping you in the meeting.
Standard video (720p): The default Zoom video quality uses 1.2-1.5 Mbps download and 0.8-1.0 Mbps upload per participant's video feed. A group call with 10 participants showing video uses approximately 12-15 Mbps download and 1.0 Mbps upload from your connection. This is manageable on most connections above 25 Mbps.
HD video (1080p): Full HD Zoom video requires 2.5-3.8 Mbps per video feed. This quality is only available on Pro, Business, and Enterprise accounts and must be enabled by the meeting host. Group calls with HD video can consume 25-40 Mbps download depending on the number of visible participants. Upload remains 2.5-3.8 Mbps for your outgoing video feed.
Screen sharing: Screen sharing adds 0.15-3.0 Mbps depending on the content being shared. Static slides use minimal bandwidth, while sharing a video or rapidly changing screen (like a software demo) uses up to 3 Mbps additional. If you frequently share screens with dynamic content, add 3 Mbps to your upload requirements.
Optimizing Zoom Performance on Limited Connections
If your internet connection is marginal for Zoom calls, these optimizations can mean the difference between a usable and unusable meeting experience.
Prioritize upload bandwidth: Zoom quality is more affected by upload speed than download speed because your outgoing video feed needs consistent upload bandwidth. Other household activities that consume upload bandwidth (cloud backups, file uploads, other video calls) directly degrade your Zoom quality. Pause or schedule these activities outside of meeting times. Configure your router's QoS to prioritize Zoom traffic, especially upload bandwidth allocation.
Close bandwidth-consuming applications: Before joining a Zoom call, close cloud sync applications (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive), pause any active downloads or updates, and close browser tabs that auto-refresh (social media, news sites, dashboards). Each of these consumes small amounts of bandwidth that collectively reduce the bandwidth available for Zoom. On a 20 Mbps upload connection, freeing up even 2-3 Mbps of upload capacity measurably improves video call quality.
Use the Zoom desktop app, not browser: Zoom's desktop application delivers significantly better performance than the browser-based client. The desktop app uses more efficient video encoding, handles bandwidth fluctuations more gracefully, and supports features like virtual backgrounds with less CPU impact. If you regularly use Zoom, always use the installed application rather than joining through a web browser.
Backup plan for important calls: For critical meetings (job interviews, client presentations, important project calls), have your phone ready as a backup. You can join a Zoom meeting on your phone using cellular data while remaining on the same meeting from your computer. If your primary internet drops, switch to the phone within seconds. For more WFH connectivity strategies, see our work from home speed guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Zoom freeze during calls?
Zoom freezing is almost always caused by insufficient upload bandwidth, Wi-Fi interference, or network congestion. Check your upload speed during a call using fast.com (which tests upload too). If upload drops below 1.5 Mbps, Zoom will freeze or reduce quality. Switch to Ethernet and close other bandwidth-heavy applications.
Is 10 Mbps enough for Zoom?
10 Mbps download is enough for Zoom, but you also need adequate upload speed. Many plans with 10 Mbps download only offer 1-2 Mbps upload, which is barely enough for a single 720p call. Check your upload speed specifically rather than just download.
Can I do Zoom calls on 5G home internet?
Yes. T-Mobile and Verizon 5G home internet typically deliver sufficient upload speeds (10-30 Mbps up) for Zoom calls. However, 5G latency is slightly higher than fiber, and speeds can vary throughout the day. For daily professional use, fiber is more reliable.
How much data does Zoom use per hour?
A 1-on-1 Zoom call in HD uses approximately 1.3-1.8 GB per hour. Group meetings with gallery view use about 2-2.5 GB per hour. Audio-only calls use just 30-60 MB per hour. If you have a data cap, one hour of daily HD Zoom calls adds roughly 40-55 GB per month.
Does a gaming router help with Zoom?
A router with QoS (Quality of Service) can prioritize Zoom traffic over other less time-sensitive traffic like downloads and streaming. This helps if multiple people share your connection. However, upgrading your internet plan or switching to fiber will have a bigger impact than changing your router alone.
How many Zoom calls can my internet handle simultaneously?
Each active Zoom call with video requires approximately 3-4 Mbps download and 2-3 Mbps upload. On a 100 Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload connection, download capacity handles 25+ simultaneous calls, but upload limits you to 3-4 simultaneous video calls. Since upload speed is usually the bottleneck, focus on your upload capacity when calculating simultaneous call capacity. For households with two remote workers in simultaneous meetings, ensure at least 10 Mbps upload speed for comfortable video quality on both calls.
Does Zoom work well on 5G home internet?
T-Mobile and Verizon 5G home internet generally provide sufficient bandwidth for Zoom calls, including HD video. The typical 10-35 Mbps upload speeds comfortably support multiple simultaneous video calls. The main concern is latency variability: 5G connections can experience occasional latency spikes during network congestion that cause brief audio or video disruption. For occasional Zoom use, 5G is fine. For all-day video conferencing, cable or fiber provides more consistent quality. Position the 5G gateway near the window with the best signal for optimal performance.
Why does my video freeze but audio continues during Zoom calls?
This occurs when your upload bandwidth drops below the minimum required for video (approximately 0.6 Mbps) but remains sufficient for audio (0.06 Mbps). Common causes include another device starting a large upload, cloud backup initiating during the call, or Wi-Fi interference temporarily reducing your connection speed. Switch to a wired connection, close bandwidth-consuming applications, and configure QoS to prioritize Zoom traffic. If the issue persists, your upload speed may be insufficient for video calls, and upgrading your plan or switching to a provider with better upload speeds may be necessary.
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