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What is upload speed and how much do you need?
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Keep freezing when you’re live-streaming or on an important work call? You might not have enough upload speed. Here’s everything you need to know about upload speed, including what it is, how to test it, and how much you need in 2025
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 6 March 2025
What is upload speed? Explained
Upload speed is how fast you can send data from your device to the internet. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps), with a higher upload speed meaning that files, photos, and videos upload faster and online activities like video calling and live streaming run smoothly.
A high upload speed is important for tasks that require sending large amounts of data, such as backing up files to cloud storage or sharing high-quality videos. If your upload speed is too slow, you’re more likely to experience lag in video calls, delays in sending emails with large attachments, or problems when you’re live streaming.
Upload speeds can vary drastically depending on your broadband package, so it’s important to check that you have enough for everything you do online. Still, most home broadband plans have lower upload speeds compared to download speeds because people generally consume more content than they create.
What can affect upload speed?
1. Your type of connection
The type of broadband package you have plays a big role in upload speed. Fiber-optic broadband usually gives you all the upload speed you need, while Cable and ADSL connections have much slower upload speeds because they are designed mainly for downloading.
The best broadband package for uploading will be full fibre or gigabit, as these offer the fastest upload speeds while directing your connection directly to your home for minimal disruption. Our broadband deals range from 125Mbps, to 1Gbps and beyond, so it’s important to compare them all to find a package with an upload speed that works for you.
2. Network Congestion
When too many people use the internet at the same time, it can slow down your upload speed if you’re broadband can’t handle it. This is common during peak hours and on public and shared networks when many people are streaming videos, browsing the web, or playing online games. And if your internet provider has limited bandwidth, heavy usage can slow you’re your upload speed drastically.
3. WiFi vs. Wired Connection
WiFi is super convenient, but it WiFi signals can be interrupted by walls, furniture, and other electronic devices, causing weaker upload speeds. And If multiple devices are connected to WiFi, they share the bandwidth, which can slow down uploads even more.
You’re better off using a wired connection like an Ethernet cable if you need superfast upload speeds for upload-intensive activities like live streaming or uploading large files. Don’t worry though, WiFi usually cuts It for your average day-to-day tasks.
4. Distance from Router
If you’re connected to WiFi, the distance between your device and the router can affect your upload speed. The farther you are from the router, the weaker the signal. Walls, floors, furniture, and other electronic devices (such as microwaves or Bluetooth speakers) can interfere with the signal, causing slower uploads. Using a WiFi extender, mesh network, or moving closer to the router can help improve connection quality and boost upload speeds.
5. Background Applications
If other programs or devices are using the internet in the background, they may take up bandwidth and reduce your upload speed. If you need a lot of upload speed at one point, check for any automatic software or device updates, cloud backups, and devices that could be hogging all your bandwidth. The less devices and background applications using your network, the better.
How to test your upload speed
If you're curious the upload speed on your device, you can measure your speed using our helpful broadband speed test.
Our tool can test your upload speed along with download speed, latency and jitter by mimicking your online activities and testing how long it takes. If the upload speed is lower than 50-100ms, you may want to look into ways to improve your connection.
What’s a good upload speed?
A good upload speed depends on what you do online. For most activities like making video calls, playing online games, and uploading videos to social media, 5 to 10 Mbps is usually enough. But if you work from home or regularly upload large files, an upload speed of at least 25 Mbps is around the ballpark of what you’ll need to avoid any issues.
You might need even more if multiple people in your home use the internet for uploading at the same time. The best way to find out if your upload speed is enough is to run an internet speed test and compare it to the needs of your daily activities.
If you experience slow uploads, lag in video calls, or buffering while streaming, you might need to upgrade your broadband package. Take a look at all of our superfast fibre broadband deals to see which package works for you.
Why is my upload speed lower than my download speed?
Most internet providers give you a much faster download speed than upload speed because most people use the internet more for downloading. When you watch videos, browse websites, or stream music, you are downloading data from the internet to your device. Uploading, like sending files or making video calls, is used less often, so providers design their networks to focus on downloads.
Another reason is the type of internet connection you have. Cable and DSL internet services are designed to provide much higher download speeds because they share bandwidth among many users.
Only the fastest fibre broadband offers equal upload and download speed, since can handle large amounts of data moving in both directions at the same time.
How can I improve my upload speed?
Using a wired connection, such as an Ethernet cable, can boost your upload speed by providing a more stable and direct link to your router. Unlike Wi-Fi, which can be affected by interference from walls, other devices, and distance, a wired connection is much more reliable.
This is especially useful when you’re uploading large files or participating in video calls, as it reduces delays and minimizes interruptions. Although it might limit your mobility, the improved performance can be well worth it.
If you do need to use Wi-Fi, there are several ways to optimize your setup for better upload speeds. Start by placing your router in a central, open area away from obstacles like thick walls or large metal objects. If your router is in a corner, behind furniture, or in a closed space, the signal can be blocked, so moving it a more central area of your space can help improve the strength of the Wi-Fi signal, leading to faster uploads.
It’s also worth using a Wi-Fi extender or mesh WiFi to help if your home is large or has thick walls. These devices spread the Wi-Fi signal evenly across your home, so you get a strong connection no matter where you are.
When too many programs or devices are uploading at the same time, your internet connection has to split the available upload speed among them. This can make your important uploads slower, cause video calls to lag, or even make live streaming choppy. That’s because background applications can quietly hog all your bandwidth, which leads to your upload speed slowing down.
Try to close or pausing these applications while you’re uploading important files to free up more bandwidth for your uploads and help ensure that your data is sent as quickly as possible.
You can check which apps are using your internet by opening your device’s task manager or network settings. If you notice apps using too much bandwidth, you can close them or adjust their settings to stop background uploads. This simple step can significantly improve your upload speed, especially when you need a stable connection for work, gaming, or streaming.
Sometimes the problem with your upload speed lies with older devices or routers that can’t handle high-speed internet connections. Upgrading your router, modem, or even your computer’s network adapter can eliminate bottlenecks and allow for a smoother, faster upload experience.
If you’ve had your router for a while, it may be time for an upgrade. All of our broadband deals come with our superfast Hub 4 or Hub 5 routers depending on the package you choose. Check out all of our broadband deals to see what you can get.
If you’re a Virgin Media customer and currently have a Hub 3 or older model (including the Superhub 1A, 2A etc.) you’re eligible for a Hub upgrade if you order or upgrade to one of our Gig1 Fibre broadband packages.
Sign in to My Virgin Media to check your existing package and upgrade your service today.
Upgrade your broadband package for faster upload speeds
The easiest way to improve your upload speed is to upgrade your broadband package. If your current plan has a low-speed limit, it may not be enough for everything you want to do online.
A faster internet plan with higher bandwidth can help improve your upload speed especially if your current plan is not suited for heavy usage. Take a look at our superfast fibre broadband deals to find a fibre broadband with high speeds and low latency.
Or if you’re serious about gaming, our gaming broadband deals will be ideal for those intense and competitive moments in online games, with minimal packet loss, ping and latency to keep your game running smoothly.
Use our helpful postcode checker to see what you can get.
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