Bandwidth Calculator Tool
Bandwidth vs speed: what’s the difference?
Internet providers frequently use the terms “bandwidth” and “speed” interchangeably. In fact, there is a subtle difference between them.
- Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over an internet connection, as measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
- Speed is the rate at which data can be downloaded (or uploaded) to a given device using that internet connection, also measured in megabits per second.
Bandwidth vs. Speed: The Plumbing Metaphor
Think of it this way: Data travels through internet cables like water in a pipe. Bandwidth is the width of that pipe — essentially, it’s the maximum volume of water (data) that can pass through at once. Speed, meanwhile, is the number of megabits per second that can be downloaded by a given device using your home network. More accurately, speed is called “throughput,” which refers to the rate at which data is “put through” to your laptop, phone, or other device.
Bandwidth vs. Speed: The Highway Metaphor
Another common way of describing the difference between bandwidth and speed is the “highway metaphor.” Imagine bandwidth as the number of lanes on a highway, and speed as the speed limit for each lane. Just like a highway, there’s a point at which the number of cars will cause a traffic jam or slowdown due to congestion. However, using only one lane doesn’t increase the maximum speed — it just means that a car (data packet) doesn’t have as much competition in the journey from point A to point B.