With internet speeds continuously increasing, many wonder how long it should take to download or upload large files. A common benchmark is 20 GB – a size large enough to contain many songs, photos, videos or other files. So how long would 20 GB take on today’s internet connections?
Factors That Affect 20 GB Download Speeds
There are several key factors that determine how long 20 GB will take to download or upload:
- Internet connection speed (bandwidth)
- Server speed of where the data is being sent/received
- Computer/device hardware
- Concurrent users on the network
- Distance to server location
- WiFi vs wired connection
Internet connection speed, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps), is the most significant factor. This sets the maximum throughput capacity available for transfers. Higher bandwidth connections can move more data per second, which equates to faster speeds.
The speed of the server hosting the file also matters – if it can’t upload data fast enough to utilize your full bandwidth capacity, speeds will be reduced. Hardware like network adapters and processors on both devices also impact real-world speeds.
Simultaneous users/devices on your local network share the available bandwidth, so more users means slower speeds for each. The physical distance and network path to the server can add small latencies that reduce throughput. Finally, WiFi generally provides slower speeds than wired Ethernet connections due to interference and signal degradation.
20 GB Download Speed Examples
Let’s look at some examples of how long 20 GB would take to download with different connection speeds:
| Connection Speed | 20 GB Download Time |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 27 hours |
| 25 Mbps | 11 hours |
| 50 Mbps | 5 hours 30 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 2 hours 48 minutes |
| 200 Mbps | 1 hour 24 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | 32 minutes |
| 1 Gbps | 16 minutes |
At 10 Mbps, it would take over a full day. At 200 Mbps, reasonable for many cable internet plans today, it would take just over an hour. And at 1 Gbps fiber speeds, 20 GB downloads in around 15 minutes.
20 GB Upload Speed Examples
Upload speeds tend to be slower than downloads, but impact large uploads like backing up 20 GB to the cloud. Here are some examples:
| Connection Speed | 20 GB Upload Time |
|---|---|
| 3 Mbps | 111 hours |
| 5 Mbps | 67 hours |
| 10 Mbps | 33 hours |
| 25 Mbps | 13 hours |
| 50 Mbps | 6 hours 40 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | 40 minutes |
Slower upload speeds significantly increase the time required, taking over 4 days at 3 Mbps. At the higher end, 500 Mbps makes quick work of uploading 20 GB in under an hour.
Impact of Distance on Speed
While connection speed is most important, the distance to the server hosting the file can also impact real-world speeds due to physics:
- Closer servers generally have lower latency, which improves throughput.
- Traffic has to physically flow across network infrastructure over distances, accumulating small delays.
- Greater distances increase the chance of network congestion causing delays.
- Long distances may require data transfers between multiple networks, adding further latency.
For example, downloading a file hosted 500 miles away will generally be faster than downloading the same file hosted 5000 miles away, all else being equal. While the impact is usually minor compared to bandwidth speeds, large files over very long distances can see reduced throughput.
Factors that Reduce Actual Speed
In addition to distance, there are other factors that can reduce the real-world speed versus your maximum internet connection speed:
WiFi vs Wired
WiFi provides lower throughput compared to wired networks. While WiFi standards continue to improve, expectations for most consumer WiFi are:
- 802.11ac – Up to 40% lower speeds than wired
- 802.11n – Up to 70% lower
- 802.11g – Up to 85% lower
Interference from other wireless sources, distance from the router, and signal obstructions can further reduce WiFi speeds. For large downloads, always choose wired Ethernet if possible.
Concurrent Users or Devices
Homes or offices with multiple users or devices sharing the internet connection will see reduced speeds for each device as the bandwidth is shared. The more concurrent users streaming, downloading, or uploading, the slower each individual device will be.
Computer Hardware
Older computers with slower network adapters, processors, and disk drives will achieve slower average speeds than new devices, even on the same internet connection. Modern hardware is better optimized for maximum throughput.
Server Speeds
If downloading from a server with slow upload speeds or high usage levels, speeds will be gated by the server throughput. The server hosting the file needs sufficient upload bandwidth to be able to fully utilize your download capacity.
Network Congestion
Peak usage hours can swamp network infrastructure with traffic, causing delays from network congestion. This typically impacts consumer internet speeds in the evenings when overall internet usage is highest.
VPN Usage
Using a VPN adds encryption, security, and geographical rerouting that can reduce speeds. The impact varies by VPN type and configuration, but expect a 10-30% speed reduction on average.
Tips for Faster 20 GB Downloads
Here are some tips to speed up large downloads like 20 GB files:
- Use wired Ethernet instead of WiFi if possible.
- Connect directly to the modem/router for dedicated bandwidth.
- Restart networking equipment like routers to clear cache.
- Download during off-peak hours to reduce network congestion.
- Download from sources with fast, uncongested servers.
- Limit other network activity during the download.
- Use a paid download manager tool for multi-part accelerated downloads.
- Use newer computer hardware with faster components.
Conclusion
In summary, a 20 GB download can take as little as 15 minutes on a very fast connection, to over 4 days on slow internet speeds. For most home users, expect 20 GB to download within 1-5 hours and upload within 3-15 hours depending on your internet plan speed. Wired connections, modern hardware, uncongested off-peak hours, and fast host servers will provide the fastest times. Large downloads require patience, but new high speed internet options continue to make big file transfers faster every year.