How Much Data Does Streaming Use Per Hour?

If your broadband has a data cap, or you watch on mobile data, it helps to know how quickly streaming eats into your allowance. The answer depends mostly on video quality, and the difference between SD and 4K is large. This guide gives typical figures, shows how to estimate your own usage and lists practical ways to use less.

Typical data use per hour

Netflix’s help centre explains that data use depends on the quality you stream at, and its published figures are the most widely quoted reference. Per device, per hour, Netflix lists:

Other services and live channels differ, because each uses its own bitrates and codecs. Treat these numbers as a starting point, not a guarantee.

Work it out from the bitrate

If you know a stream’s bitrate, you can calculate data use yourself:

GB per hour ≈ bitrate in Mbps × 0.45

That comes from 1 Mbps × 3,600 seconds = 3,600 megabits = 450 megabytes, or about 0.45 GB. So:

Our explainer on what bitrate is covers why streams use different rates.

Estimate your monthly total

1. Estimate the hours you watch per day (all TVs and devices together).
2. Multiply by the GB-per-hour figure for the quality you watch.
3. Multiply by 30.

Example: 3 hours a day of HD at about 3 GB per hour ≈ 9 GB a day ≈ 270 GB a month. The same viewing in 4K at about 7 GB per hour is roughly 630 GB.

Two people watching different things at the same time double the total, so count each stream separately.

How to use less data

On TVs and streaming devices

• Choose the quality you need. On a small TV viewed from a distance, HD can look nearly as good as 4K at less than half the data. See SD vs HD vs Full HD vs 4K.
• Turn off auto-play of trailers and next episodes where apps allow it.
• Switch the TV off, not just the screen. Some devices keep streaming when the TV is in standby.

On phones and tablets

• Set a lower default quality for mobile networks in each app’s settings.
• Set a data warning or limit in your phone’s settings.
• Restrict mobile data for apps you only want to use on Wi-Fi.
• Download over Wi-Fi where an app allows offline viewing; downloads use about the same data as streaming, but you can do it at home.

Device-specific tips are in our guides to IPTV on iPhone and iPad and IPTV on Android phones and tablets.

On your home network

• Check your router or provider’s app for a monthly usage meter.
• Find out whether your plan is unlimited, capped or throttled after a threshold. Many fixed broadband plans are unlimited, but some, particularly in parts of North America and on mobile or satellite broadband, are not.

Data use vs internet speed

These are different questions:

• Speed (Mbps) decides whether a stream plays smoothly right now.
• Data (GB) is the total amount you use over time.

A fast connection does not use more data by itself; watching higher-quality video does. For how much speed you need, see the internet speed for streaming guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much data does a two-hour film use?

Using Netflix’s published maximums, about 2 GB in SD, about 6 GB in HD and about 14 GB in 4K. Other services and live channels vary with their bitrates.

Does pausing a stream use data?

Very little. The player may finish filling its buffer, but data use stops soon after you pause. Some apps disconnect after a while and reconnect when you resume.

Does Wi-Fi use less data than mobile?

No. The same stream uses the same amount of data on any connection. Wi-Fi simply means it counts against your home broadband allowance rather than your mobile plan.

Summary

Netflix puts streaming at up to 1 GB an hour in SD, up to 3 GB in HD and up to 7 GB in 4K; other services and live channels vary. Multiply by your daily hours to estimate a monthly total, and lower the quality on small screens and mobile data to save the most. If you know a stream’s bitrate, multiply it by 0.45 to get GB per hour.