How to test your internet speed the right way
For a true reading, connect a computer to your router with a cable, pause everything else on the network, and run a speed test several times at different hours. One test on Wi-Fi tells you very little, but a short series shows whether you have a plan limit, a home setup problem or a line problem.
- Test with a cable first, then on Wi-Fi, so you can tell the line from your home setup.
- Run at least three tests at different times of day and write the results down.
- Compare your numbers to the typical speed for your plan, not just the headline number in the ad.
Before you test: what can skew your result
A speed test reflects whichever part of the path between your device and the test server is slow. That slow part is often inside your home, not on the line outside. Fix the common causes first.
- Other devices streaming, gaming, backing up photos or downloading updates.
- A VPN or proxy running on the device you test with.
- Many browser tabs and apps open on the test computer.
- Weak Wi-Fi from distance, walls or an old router.
- A phone or computer that's itself old or low on memory.
Step by step: how to run a clean speed test
- Restart your modem and router if you haven't in a while. Wait a few minutes for them to reconnect.
- Close other apps and tabs. Turn off any VPN on the test device.
- Pause downloads and video on other devices, or ask others at home to wait.
- Plug a computer into the router with a network cable.
- Run a speed test and note download, upload and ping.
- Run it two more times, then repeat later in the day.
If the three results are close together, you can trust them. If they jump around, something on the network is interfering.
Wired vs Wi-Fi: why you should test both
A cable removes Wi-Fi from the picture. If the wired result is close to your plan, the line is probably fine. If Wi-Fi is much lower, the problem is in your home setup.
| Test | What it tells you | Common limit |
|---|---|---|
| Cable to router | What the line delivers to your door | Older network ports often top out at about 100 Mbps. Newer ports commonly reach close to 1 Gbps. |
| Wi-Fi next to router | A good-case reading for your wireless setup | Often well below the wired result on older routers |
| Wi-Fi in a far room | Real life where you use devices | Drops with distance, walls and interference |
Check the port too. If your computer or router only has an older, slower port, a fast plan will look slow no matter what.
How to read download, upload, ping and jitter
- Download is how fast data reaches you. It matters for streaming, browsing and updates.
- Upload is how fast data leaves you. It matters for video calls, cloud backups and sending large files.
- Ping (latency) is the delay in milliseconds. Lower is better for calls and games.
- Jitter is how much that delay changes. High jitter causes choppy calls even when speed looks fine.
Speeds are in megabits per second (Mbps). File sizes are often in megabytes. There are 8 bits in a byte, so 100 Mbps is about 12.5 megabytes per second. For more on delay, see latency, ping and jitter explained.
Why your result may be lower than your plan
Many plans are sold with an "up to" speed. That is a ceiling, not a promise of what you'll see at every moment. Federal broadband label rules call for providers to show typical speeds and delay, so ask for the label for your plan and compare against the typical figure.
Other reasons include a busy evening network, an old modem, a slow device, a bad cable, or a slowdown after you pass a data limit. Some speed loss from overhead is normal, so a result a little under the plan isn't unusual. A result far under it, on a cable, again and again, is worth following up. To see what speeds suit your household, read what is a good internet speed.
How to keep a simple speed log at different times of day
A log turns a guess into evidence. Test at least three times a day for a few days: morning, afternoon and evening. Evening is often a busy time.
- Date and time
- Cable or Wi-Fi, and which room
- Download, upload and ping
- What else was running
After a week, look for a pattern. Slow only at night points to a busy network. Slow only on Wi-Fi points to your home setup. Slow everywhere, all day, points to the line or the plan.
When to fix it at home and when to contact your provider
Fix it at home when the cable result is good but Wi-Fi is weak. Move the router to a central, open spot, update it or replace an old one, and keep it away from thick walls. Our guide on why your internet may be slow covers more home fixes.
Contact your provider when the cable result stays far below the typical speed at several times of day, even after a restart and with other devices off. Bring your log. Then ask:
- What is the typical speed for my plan, and what does my label say?
- Can you check the signal on my line and my modem?
- Is my modem or router old, and does it support my plan's speed?
- Is there a data limit or slowdown that applies to me?
If the answers don't settle it, you can ask the provider about its escalation steps. You can also contact a consumer office or a federal communications regulator to ask how complaints are handled. Outcomes vary, so don't expect a set remedy.
Common questions
How do I test my internet speed accurately?
Connect a computer to your router with a cable, close other apps, pause other devices and turn off any VPN. Run the test at least three times, then repeat at different times of day.
Why is my speed test result lower than what I pay for?
Many plans are advertised as "up to" a speed, and real results vary with Wi-Fi, old equipment, busy hours and overhead. Compare your wired result to the typical speed your provider lists for your plan.
Is it better to test internet speed on Wi-Fi or with a cable?
Test both. The gap between the wired result and the Wi-Fi result points to your home setup.
How often should I test my internet speed?
Test when you notice a problem, after changing equipment, and a few times a day for several days if you plan to contact your provider. Otherwise, a quick check every few months is enough.