What internet speed do you need for Zoom and Teams calls?
A single HD video call needs about 1.2 to 1.5 Mbps in each direction, and a 1080p group call about 3 to 4 Mbps. What matters more is steady upload and low jitter, which is why a fast plan can still give a choppy call.
What Zoom recommends
| Zoom call type | Upload | Download |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1, high-quality video | 0.6 Mbps | 0.6 Mbps |
| 1:1, 720p HD | 1.2 Mbps | 1.2 Mbps |
| 1:1, 1080p HD | 3.8 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps |
| Group, high-quality video | 1.0 Mbps | 0.6 Mbps |
| Group, 720p HD | 2.6 Mbps | 1.8 Mbps |
| Group, 1080p HD | 3.8 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps |
Gallery view adds to the download side, because Zoom lists about 2.0 Mbps for 25 visible participants and 4.0 Mbps for 49.
What Microsoft Teams recommends
| Teams call type | Recommended (up / down) |
|---|---|
| Video, one-to-one | About 1.5 Mbps / 1.5 Mbps |
| Video, meetings | About 2.5 Mbps / 4 Mbps |
| Screen sharing, one-to-one | About 1.5 Mbps / 1.5 Mbps |
Microsoft also says Teams can deliver HD video in under 1.5 Mbps, and lists a minimum of about 150 kbps for video, which gives a very low-resolution picture.
Why calls break up on a fast connection
The numbers above are small compared with a typical home plan. Calls usually fail for a different reason: they need a steady connection in both directions, and they are sensitive to delay. The usual causes are:
- Weak or crowded Wi-Fi. Packets arrive late or have to be sent again.
- Saturated upload. A cloud backup or someone sharing a large file can use up the upload side.
- Jitter. The delay varies from moment to moment. Microsoft notes that choppy or robotic audio "could be jitter or packet loss". See what is jitter.
- Bufferbloat. Your router queues traffic when the line is busy, so call packets wait. See what is bufferbloat.
What the SpeedUp test checks for calls
Our verdict for video calls is a rough guideline. It shows Stable when upload is at least 3 Mbps, jitter is under 30 ms and the ping under load stays under 200 ms. It shows a warning for 1.5 to 3 Mbps upload (calls may stutter if others use the network) and a red result below 1.5 Mbps. Zoom's 1080p figure is a little higher than 3 Mbps, so if several people share your line, a safe target for comfortable group calls is about 5 Mbps upload.
Quick fixes before an important call
- Use a cable, or sit close to the router.
- Pause cloud backups and large uploads, and ask others in the house to wait.
- Close other video or streaming apps on your device.
- Lower the call quality, or turn off gallery view, if the line is weak.
- Restart the router if it has been on for weeks.
- Run the SpeedUp test and look at jitter and the bufferbloat grade, not only speed.