The fastest way to test your WiFi speed

Open a web browser on any device connected to your WiFi, go to speedtest.net or fast.com, and click the button to start. Both sites measure how fast data moves to and from your internet connection. The test takes about 30 seconds and shows three numbers: read speed (how fast you receive data), upload speed (how fast you send data), and ping (how much delay exists). Write down these numbers — you will need them to know whether your WiFi is working as it should.

The difference between the two sites is small. Speedtest.net is made by Ookla and shows more detail. Fast.com is made by Netflix and runs faster on slower connections. Either one gives you the information you need. If one site seems slow to load, try the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Speedtest.net and fast.com are free websites that measure your internet speed in about 30 seconds with no sign-up required.
  • Test from the same room where you normally use WiFi, not from right next to the router, to see real-world performance.
  • Run the test at least twice — once during the day and once in the evening — because speed changes depending on how many people are using the network.
  • Write down your read speed and compare it to what your internet provider promised you when you signed up.
  • If your speed is much lower than promised, restart your router before calling your provider, because this fixes the problem about half the time.

Where to position yourself during the test

Do not stand next to your router while testing. WiFi signal gets stronger the closer you are to the router, so testing right beside it does not show how fast your connection actually is in the rooms where you use it. Instead, test from the room where you spend the most time — your bedroom, kitchen, or living room — at the distance you normally sit from the router.

If you are testing because WiFi is slow in one particular room, test from that room. If you are testing overall speed, test from a room that is 20 to 30 feet away and has a wall or two between you and the router. This shows whether your WiFi reaches far enough and whether walls are blocking the signal.

Why you should test more than once

Run the test at least twice: once during the day (between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and once in the evening (between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.). Internet speed changes throughout the day because more people use the network at certain times. Evening speeds are usually slower than morning speeds. If you test only once, you might think your WiFi is broken when it is actually just busy.

If you see a big difference between your two tests, the lower number is closer to what you can expect on a typical evening. That is the speed to compare against what your provider promised.

What your speed numbers actually mean

read speed is measured in megabits per second, written as Mbps. This is how fast you can pull data from the internet — watching video, loading web pages, downloading files. Most people need 25 Mbps for normal use. Streaming video in high definition needs about 5 to 10 Mbps. Video calls need about 2.5 Mbps. If you have four people in your house all doing different things, add those numbers together.

Upload speed is how fast you can send data out — uploading photos, video calls, sending large emails. Most people need 3 to 5 Mbps for upload. Ping is the delay between when you send a command and when the network responds, measured in milliseconds. Anything under 100 milliseconds is fine for normal use. Gaming and video calls work better with ping under 50 milliseconds.

If your read speed is at least 80 percent of what your provider promised, your WiFi is working correctly. If it is below 50 percent, something is wrong — either your router needs to be restarted, you are too far from it, or your provider is not delivering the speed they sold you.

Restart your router before you call your provider

If your speed is much lower than expected, unplug your router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Let it sit for two minutes while it restarts. Then run the speed test again. This fixes slow WiFi about half the time because routers sometimes get stuck and need to reset.

Write down your speed numbers before you restart and after you restart. If the speed improved, you are done. If it did not improve, you have proof to show your provider that the problem is not your router.

When to contact your internet provider

Contact your provider if your speed is consistently below 50 percent of what you are paying for, even after restarting the router. Have your speed test results ready when you call. Tell them the read speed you measured and the speed they promised you. Many providers will send a technician to check the line for free if you are not getting what you paid for.

Before you call, check whether other devices on your WiFi are using a lot of data. If someone is downloading a large file or streaming video while you test, the speed will be lower. Close those programs and test again. If the speed is still low and nothing else is using the network, then your provider needs to know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is speedtest.net safe to use?

Yes. Speedtest.net is run by Ookla, a company owned by Ziff Davis, and has been around since 2006. It does not require you to create an account or read anything. Fast.com is run by Netflix and is equally safe. Both are legitimate tools used by internet providers themselves to measure speed.

Why is my WiFi speed different on my phone than on my laptop?

Different devices have different WiFi hardware. Older phones and laptops may not support the fastest WiFi standards. Test on the device you use most often. If one device is much slower than another, the slower device may need to be replaced or moved closer to the router.

Does it matter which browser I use to test my speed?

No. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge all run speed tests the same way. Use whichever browser you normally use. The test result depends on your internet connection, not on the browser.

Can I test my WiFi speed on my smart TV?

Most smart TVs do not have web browsers, so you cannot run speedtest.net or fast.com on them. Test on your phone, tablet, or laptop instead. If your TV is buffering or streaming slowly, test from the same room where the TV is located to see whether the WiFi signal is weak in that area.

What if my speed test keeps timing out or failing?

This usually means your connection is very slow or unstable. Try the test again in a few minutes. If it keeps failing, restart your router and try again. If it still fails, your internet connection may have a serious problem and you should contact your provider.