Free UK internet speed checker

Broadband speed test

Measure your download speed, upload speed and ping in your browser. For the most useful result, stop large downloads and test once over Wi-Fi and once with an Ethernet cable.

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Free to use · No registration · Method reviewed 27 September 2026

What does a broadband speed test measure?

This free UK broadband speed test measures the connection between your device and our London test server: download speed for receiving data, upload speed for sending it, ping for responsiveness and jitter for consistency. Run it once near your router over Wi-Fi and again over Ethernet for the clearest diagnosis; one result is a snapshot, not a guarantee of your provider's advertised speed.

UK multi-stream test

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Ping

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Download

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Upload

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Jitter

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Use your location for a more useful result

Chrome, Safari and Firefox will show their usual location prompt. You can allow while visiting this site, allow this time, or never allow. We use the coordinates only in your browser to confirm you are in the UK and find the nearest postcode district. The speed measurement still runs to our London server. Coordinates are not sent to analytics.

What your broadband speed-test result tells you

Your result is a snapshot of the connection between your device and our test server. Download speed affects streaming and web use, upload speed affects video calls and file sharing, and ping affects responsiveness. One test is not proof of line performance: repeat it at different times and compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet.

Is your broadband speed good?

There is no single perfect speed. The useful benchmark is whether your connection supports everyone's activity reliably. These bands are practical guidance, not a guarantee for every app or household.

Broadband speed bands and common household uses
Measured download	Guide	Typically suitable for
Under 10 Mbps	Slow	Basic browsing and email on one device
10–30 Mbps	Everyday	Browsing, video calls and HD streaming for 1–2 people
30–100 Mbps	Superfast	Several users, streaming and working from home
100–300 Mbps	Fast	Busy homes, 4K streaming and large downloads
Over 300 Mbps	Ultrafast	Many devices, creators and frequent large transfers

Terminology aligned with Ofcom's broadband speed guidance: superfast is 30–300 Mbit/s and ultrafast is above 300 Mbit/s.

How to run a more accurate broadband speed test

Step 1
Pause other traffic
Stop streaming, cloud backups, games and large downloads on other devices.
Step 2
Test near the router
Start beside the router over Wi-Fi, then use Ethernet if your device supports it.
Step 3
Repeat the test
Run at least three tests, including an evening test when networks may be busier.
Step 4
Record the evidence
Save the date, time, connection type and results if you need to contact your provider.

How BroadbandPicker measures your connection

Ping and jitter: two warmup requests are discarded, then ten sequential requests to our London server. The headline ping is the median. Jitter is the mean gap between consecutive samples, which is closer to how a call feels than a single round trip.

Download and upload: the tester opens several parallel connections for eight seconds and ignores the first two seconds of TCP slow start. The headline figure is the 90th percentile of the remaining samples, the same idea Ookla uses to report a filled path rather than bytes divided by the whole clock. A sustain figure is the median of the last three seconds. Loaded ping is sampled during download to show bufferbloat.

Payloads: download bytes are high-entropy and sent with Content-Encoding: identity so compression cannot inflate the result. Upload uses random bytes for the same reason.

Location: if you allow it, the browser asks for your location in the usual way (this visit, while visiting the site, or never). We use the coordinates only to look up the nearest UK postcode district through postcodes.io, then store that postcode locally like the postcode checker. Coordinates are not sent to analytics. The speed measurement still uses our London server.

Limitations: this browser test measures the route to our London server, not the access-line speed inside your provider's network and not a dedicated Ookla or thinkbroadband probe. Wi-Fi, device radios, browser limits, routing and congestion can cap it. We do not claim Ofcom accreditation. Ethernet still beats Wi-Fi for a line diagnosis.

Methodology reviewed by the BroadbandPicker editorial team on 27 September 2026.

Why speed-test results differ

Different speed tests can show different numbers because they use different servers, routes, connection counts and scoring windows. Compare like with like: use the same device and room, repeat at the same time, and record whether the test used Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A higher number is not automatically a better diagnosis if the test hides upload speed, latency under load or the measurement method.

For a line fault

Use Ethernet beside the router, pause other traffic and compare repeated results with the minimum guaranteed speed in your contract.

For everyday Wi-Fi

Test in the room where the problem occurs. A lower result may describe Wi-Fi coverage or interference rather than the broadband line.

What to do if your broadband is slower than expected

Test with Ethernet, restart your router and compare repeated results with the minimum guaranteed speed stated in your contract. If the shortfall continues, keep your results and contact the provider. Ofcom explains the speed information providers should give customers before purchase.

Compare options at your postcode Read the broadband speed guide Test VPN speed loss fairly

Availability and speeds vary by address. A provider may pay us commission if you purchase after clicking through; rankings are not changed by commission.

Broadband speed-test questions

What is a good broadband speed in the UK?

A good speed depends on the household and the stability of the connection. Around 30 Mbps can support browsing, HD streaming and video calls for a small household. Busy homes, simultaneous 4K streams and large downloads benefit from 100 Mbps or more. Also check upload speed, ping and jitter rather than judging the connection from download speed alone.

Why is my speed-test result lower than my advertised speed?

Wi-Fi conditions, distance from the router, other devices, network congestion and the test server can all reduce a result. Advertised or estimated speeds are not always the same as the speed reaching one device. Test with Ethernet and repeat at different times before drawing a conclusion.

Should I test over Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

Use Ethernet for the best measure of the connection reaching your router. Test over Wi-Fi as well if you want to measure the experience in a particular room. Comparing both results can reveal whether the broadband line or the home Wi-Fi is the limiting factor.

What do download speed, upload speed and ping mean?

Download speed measures how quickly data reaches you, upload speed measures how quickly you send it, and ping measures response time in milliseconds. Streaming relies mainly on download speed; video calls and cloud backups also need upload speed; gaming and calls benefit from low ping.

What should I do if my broadband is consistently slow?

Restart the router, test with Ethernet, pause other traffic and repeat the test at different times. Compare the results with the minimum guaranteed speed in your contract. If results remain below it, record the tests and contact your provider before considering a switch.

Why does the speed test ask for my location?

The browser may ask for your location so we can confirm you are in the UK and attach the nearest postcode district to your result. That helps you compare deals for your area. The speed measurement still runs to our London server. You can allow this visit, allow this time, or never allow. The test still works if you decline.

Sources and editorial notes

Last tested and reviewed: 27 September 2026. We review this page when the test method or relevant Ofcom guidance changes.