At a glance
See how the task fits together
Swipe across to see every column.
| File size | 20 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 6 min 40 sec | 1 min 20 sec |
| 10 GB | 1 hr 7 min | 13 min 20 sec |
| 50 GB | 5 hr 33 min | 1 hr 7 min |
Decimal GB; before overhead, retries, final checks and the recipient’s download. These are estimates, not measured TransferSize speeds.
Follow these steps
- 01
Read the file size
Check the size of the selected files on your device or in the uploader. Use the combined size if you are sending several files.
- 02
Find your upload speed
Use a trusted speed test or your recent measured transfer speed. Read Upload, not Download. Avoid running repeated speed tests during an important transfer because they compete for bandwidth.
- 03
Calculate a rough duration
For decimal GB and Mbps, multiply the number of GB by 8,000, then divide by the upload Mbps. The result is seconds. Divide by 60 to get minutes.
- 04
Allow extra time
The estimate excludes overhead, retries, slower drives, congestion, and final checks. A deadline needs a buffer and time for the recipient’s download.
- 05
Watch the real transfer
Keep the page open and compare the displayed progress and estimate with your plan. If the connection drops, follow the interruption guide instead of refreshing immediately.
Your upload estimate does not include your recipient’s download. They need adequate internet access, storage, and time before the link expires.
Keep this in mind
Know what happens next
Why eight appears in the calculation
A byte contains eight bits. File sizes are usually shown in bytes, such as GB or MB. Connection speeds are often shown in bits per second, such as Mbps. A connection of 80 Mbps is roughly 10 MB per second before overhead, not 80 MB per second.
A few worked examples
At a steady 20 Mbps upload, 1 GB takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds; 10 GB takes about 1 hour 7 minutes; and 50 GB takes about 5 hours 33 minutes. At 100 Mbps, 50 GB takes about 1 hour 7 minutes. These are arithmetic examples under constant speed, not benchmarks or guaranteed completion times.
The slowest part can move
Wi-Fi quality, other devices, your drive, network routing, and service conditions can all affect speed. A file stored only in another cloud service may first need to download to your device. A larger plan allowance does not by itself demonstrate a faster path for your connection.
Lots of small files can behave differently
A folder with thousands of tiny files has more item handling than one large file of the same total size. A ZIP can make the package easier to manage, but creating and extracting it also takes time and disk space. Choose it for the delivery needs, not as a universal speed trick.
Completion includes a final check
The final stage may confirm uploaded data before the link is ready. Leave time to open the recipient page, download a sample, and fix a wrong filename or missing item. Finishing the data transfer at the exact deadline is a fragile delivery plan.
Questions people ask
Why does my estimate go up?
It changes with recent progress. A slowdown, retry, or verification stage can increase the estimate without increasing the file’s actual size.
Will splitting a video speed up my internet?
No. Splitting does not create bandwidth. Smaller packages may be easier to manage, but the total data still needs to travel.
Are GB and GiB the same?
No. They use different unit sizes. Operating systems and services may display different numbers for the same bytes, so use the uploader’s actual limit check.
Keep enough time for upload, confirmation, and the recipient’s download.