Game Download Time Calculator

How long that 120 GB install is really going to take.

100% assumes you get every bit of your advertised speed. Most connections sit around 80–90% once the download server, other devices and evening congestion take their share.

Estimated download time
The same download at other speeds
Connection speedTime

Enter the size of the download and the speed of your connection to get a realistic estimate. The common trap is that internet speeds are sold in megabits and file sizes are measured in megabytes — eight times larger — so a 50 Mbps connection downloads at roughly 6 MB per second, not 50.

How to use it

  1. Enter the size of the game and pick MB, GB or TB.
  2. Enter your connection speed, or tap one of the presets.
  3. Adjust the efficiency slider if you want to allow for real-world overhead — 100% assumes you get every bit of your advertised speed, which almost never happens.
  4. The estimate updates as you type, with a comparison table underneath at other speeds.

How the numbers are worked out

The maths: time in seconds = (size in megabytes × 8) ÷ (speed in megabits per second), adjusted by the efficiency setting. Real downloads are usually slower than the ideal figure — the game's servers, other devices on your connection, evening congestion and the console or PC writing to disk all take a share.

Common questions

Why is my download slower than this says?

The calculator assumes you get your full advertised speed with nothing else competing for it. In practice the download server has its own limits, other devices share your line, and connections slow down during busy evening hours. Setting efficiency to around 80% gives a more realistic estimate for most connections.

What is the difference between Mbps and MBps?

Mbps is megabits per second and is how internet speed is sold. MBps is megabytes per second and is how download progress is usually displayed. One byte is eight bits, so divide your Mbps figure by eight to get the download speed you will actually see.

How long does 100 GB take?

At a full 50 Mbps, roughly four and a half hours. At 25 Mbps, about nine hours. At 100 Mbps, a little over two. Allow more if your connection does not sustain its full rated speed.

Does it matter whether I use Wi-Fi or a cable?

It can matter a great deal. A wired connection generally sustains a speed close to what your line can deliver, while Wi-Fi varies with distance, walls and interference. For a very large download, a cable is worth the inconvenience.

Why do consoles slow down near the end of an install?

Because downloading and installing are two different jobs. Once the data is down, the console still has to unpack and write it, which is limited by storage speed rather than your connection.

Not sure what your result means?

Post it in the forums and someone who has had the same fault will usually know whether it is worth cleaning, repairing or replacing. You do not need an account to read, and it is free to join.