WiFi Standard Calculator
WiFi link speeds and download seconds.
What it does
WiFi generations multiply headline speeds while real rooms deliver half: walls, distance, and sharing tax every gigabit the box advertises. Planning downloads needs the typical rate, not the sticker.
The tool above takes the WiFi standard with file size. It returns max and typical rates plus download seconds.
The default WiFi 6 moves 1 GB in 1.7 s at 4.8 typical from 9.6 max. The WiFi 5 case moves 2 GB in 4.6 s, and old WiFi 4 needs 26.7 s per gigabyte.
IEEE amendments publish each generation peak with the Alliance certifying matching names. Throughput halves through protocol overhead before rooms take their cut.
Upgrade math starts at the bottleneck: ISP plan, router generation, and client radios all cap the chain. Fix the slowest first, then rerun these numbers.
How to use
- Pick the WiFi standard.
- Type the file GB.
- Read max rate first.
- Read typical beside it.
- Read seconds last.
- Compare standards for upgrades.
Formula
- standard
- WiFi 4/5/6/7 generation.
- GB
- File size in gigabytes.
- typical
- Half of headline rate.
IEEE 802.11 amendments publish the headline rates per standard with Wi-Fi Alliance certifying matching generations. Real throughput halves those peaks through overhead, distance, and sharing. Seconds divide file bits by typical rate.
Worked example
Example: WiFi 6 download
Defaults: WiFi 6, 1 GB file.
- Standard: WiFi 6 (802.11ax).
- Max: 9.6 Gbps link rate.
- Typical: half, 4.8 Gbps real world.
- File: 1 GB = 8 gigabits.
- Time: 8 / 4.8 = 1.7 s total.
- Tool shows 9.6 Gbps max, 4.8 Gbps typical, 1.7 s total.
Reference table
| Standard | Max | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi 4 (n) | 0.6 Gbps | 0.3 Gbps |
| WiFi 5 (ac) | 6.9 Gbps | 3.5 Gbps |
| WiFi 6 (ax) | 9.6 Gbps | 4.8 Gbps |
| WiFi 7 (be) | 46 Gbps | 23 Gbps |
Limits
- Single client ideal math.
- Shared airtime unread.
- ISP caps rule chains.
- Interference varies hourly.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting headline rates.
- Ignoring ISP bottlenecks.
- Testing far from routers.
- Mixing bits with bytes.
- Forgetting half duplex air.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
WiFi 5, 2 GB?
Max 6.9, typical 3.5, 2 GB in 4.6 s total.
WiFi 4, 1 GB?
Max 0.6, typical 0.3, 1 GB in 26.7 s total.
0 GB?
Zero size downloads nothing: enter GB above 0.
Questions
Speeds by standard?
n 0.6, ac 6.9, ax 9.6, be 46 Gbps max. Typical runs near half with overhead and distance.
Why slower than max?
Walls, distance, congestion, and client limits. Wired backhaul and placement help most.
Best case numbers?
Yes, per band and stream: totals assume wide channels with full streams, rarely all met.
2.4 or 5 GHz?
No, 2.4 reaches far while 5 and 6 GHz run fast near the router. Mesh blends both.
Security too?
Yes, security and updates ride alongside speed. WPA3 with current firmware wins.
ISP plan irrelevant?
No, ISP plans cap the chain first. LAN math only spends the pipe you buy.