Download ETA Calculator
Enter file size and transfer speed to instantly calculate download time. Supports all units, batch mode, and a live progress simulator.
Last reviewed: June 2026New to this tool? Click here for instructions
Add multiple files and a shared transfer speed to see total and individual download times.
Simulate a download in real time to visualise how long it feels at a given speed.
| Connection | Typical Speed | 1 GB download | 10 GB download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56K modem | 0.056 Mbps | ~2 hr 0 min | ~20 hr |
| ADSL (basic) | 8 Mbps | ~16 min 40 sec | ~2 hr 47 min |
| 3G mobile | 3 Mbps | ~44 min | ~7 hr 24 min |
| 3G mobile (fast) | 8 Mbps | ~16 min 40 sec | ~2 hr 47 min |
| 4G LTE (avg) | 25 Mbps | ~5 min 20 sec | ~53 min 20 sec |
| 4G LTE (good) | 50 Mbps | ~2 min 40 sec | ~26 min 40 sec |
| Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) | 40 Mbps | ~3 min 20 sec | ~33 min |
| Cable / VDSL2 | 100 Mbps | ~1 min 20 sec | ~13 min 20 sec |
| Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 200 Mbps | ~40 sec | ~6 min 40 sec |
| 5G Sub-6 (avg) | 200 Mbps | ~40 sec | ~6 min 40 sec |
| Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 400 Mbps | ~20 sec | ~3 min 20 sec |
| 5G Sub-6 (fast) | 500 Mbps | ~16 sec | ~2 min 40 sec |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 940 Mbps | ~8.5 sec | ~1 min 25 sec |
| Fibre (1 Gbps plan) | 1,000 Mbps | ~8 sec | ~1 min 20 sec |
| 5G mmWave | 2,000 Mbps | ~4 sec | ~40 sec |
| 10 Gigabit Ethernet | 10,000 Mbps | <1 sec | ~8 sec |
Speeds are typical real-world averages, not theoretical maxima. Assumes 1 GB = 1,000 MB = 8,000,000,000 bits (SI decimal).
How to Use the Download ETA Calculator
The Download ETA Calculator is a free online tool that helps you calculate the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for file downloads. To use it, simply enter the file size and transfer speed, and the tool will provide you with the ETA. The calculator supports various units, including bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, kilobits per second, megabits per second, gigabits per second, kilobytes per second, megabytes per second, and gigabytes per second. You can also use batch mode to calculate the ETA for multiple files with different sizes and transfer speeds.
- Enter file size and transfer speed
- Supports various units
- Use batch mode for multiple files
When to Use the Download ETA Calculator
The Download ETA Calculator is useful when you need to estimate the time it will take to download a file. It can be used for personal file downloads, work-related file transfers, or any situation where you need to know how long a download will take. The calculator is particularly useful when you are unsure of your internet speed or when you need to compare the download times for different files and speeds. The calculator is also useful for batch mode, where you can enter multiple files with different sizes and transfer speeds, and the tool will provide you with the ETA for each file and the total time for all files.
How it Works
The Download ETA Calculator uses a simple formula to calculate the ETA based on the file size and transfer speed. The formula takes into account the size of the file and the speed of your internet connection to provide an accurate estimate of the time it will take to download the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Example walk-through
Estimating a file transfer
For a 4.7 GB Linux ISO over a 100 Mbps connection, convert megabits to megabytes before estimating. 100 Mbps is 12.5 MB/s before protocol overhead, so a perfect transfer would take about 6 minutes 16 seconds. Real downloads often take longer because of Wi-Fi loss, server throttling, TCP slow start, and shared network congestion.
Use the batch tab when comparing several files against the same link speed. Use the simulator tab when you want to visualize progress for a support note or documentation screenshot. The simulator is a local animation; it does not download test data or call mapping, traffic, or speed-test APIs.
size = 4.7 GB
speed = 100 Mbps
seconds = bytes / bytes_per_second