Average download and upload speed in US & 6 optimizing tips [REVEALED]

What are average download and upload speeds? 

Do you know which rate the average download and upload speed in US is? 

Keep reading this article and find some effective tips to optimize your Internet speed if your average download and upload speed is not good at all.

Let’s go!

Average download and upload speed in US

What is the minimum download and upload speed?

As stated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an Internet speed with 25 Mbps download speed, and 3 Mbps upload speed is considered good. 

This speed allows Internet users to make the minimum basic online demands without interruptions. 

In detail, the FCC recommends the minimum download speed for some everyday online activities: 

Activities	Minimum Download Speed (Mbps)
General Usage
General Browsing and Email	1
Streaming Online Radio	Less than 0.5
VoIP Calls	Less than 0.5
Student	5 - 25
Telecommuting	5 - 25
File Downloading	10
Social Media	1
Watching Video
Streaming Standard Definition Video	3 - 4
Streaming High Definition (HD) Video	5 - 8
Streaming Ultra HD 4K Video	25
Video Conferencing
Standard Personal Video Call (e.g., Skype)	1
HD Personal Video Call (e.g., Skype)	1.5
HD Video Teleconferencing	6
Gaming
Game Console Connecting to the Internet	3
Online Multiplayer	4

Source from fcc.gov

From the rough guideline of the FCC, you can give your best judgment as well as choosing a suitable broadband service. 

However, if you live in the US, is your Internet service quality good enough? 

Is it possible to switch to an upper Internet plan? 

Move to the next part to find the answer! 

The average Internet speed in US in 2022

The amount of data and information that may be carried over the Internet on a single connection is referred to as Internet speed. 

Internet speed is crucial because it impacts what people can and cannot do on the Internet. 

The US experiences considerable increases in average Internet speed each year as US telecommunications companies work tirelessly to create better networks. 

Rural states, on average, have slower Internet speeds, but more densely populated regions have better Internet connections.

Internet speed in the US has been increasing

Many studies show that there is a big improvement in Internet service in the US.

In 2022, the US gained an average Internet speed of 119.03 Mbps which increased by 19.86% compared to the last year, which is only 99.3 Mbps. 

Moreover, the US Internet service also has been growing for the last 4 years.

This trend reflects an increase in demand for high speeds as Americans spend more time online for work, education, healthcare, and other purposes.

The upload and download speeds by states in US states

Now, let’s see what the upload and download speeds in different US states are.

States with the fastest Internet speed

Here are the top 5 fastest Internet-speed states: 

Fastest states	Average Internet speed
Maryland	65.02 Mbps
New Jersey	59.58 Mbps
Delaware	59.08 Mbps
Rhode Island	56.77 Mbps
Virginia	55.98 Mbps

 

Data:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/average-Internet-speed-by-state 

As you can see, Maryland is the state with the fastest average Internet speed with 65.02 Mbps. 

Its high Internet speeds make it perfect for tech companies, multi-person streaming, and gaming.

New Jersey (59.58 Mbps), Delaware (59.08 Mbps), Rhode Island (56.77 Mbps), and Virginia are the next four quickest states (55.98 Mbps).

The East Coast is home to these five fastest average Internet speeds. 

These states may provide better start-up conditions for businesses than Silicon Valley due to lower living costs and faster Internet speeds.

 Maryland is the fastest-Internet speed state

States with the slowest Internet speed

In contrast to the states with the fastest Internet speed, here are the top 5 slowest Internet-speed states:

Slowest states	Average Internet speed
Alaska	17.03 Mbps
Mississippi	24.77 Mbps
Idaho	25.30 Mbps
Montana	25.70 Mbps
Maine	26.05 Mbps

 

Data:

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/average-Internet-speed-by-state 

The average Internet speed in Alaska is 17.03 Mbps. 

Speeds less than 20 Mbps need longer download times and are only suitable for single-user streaming. 

Mississippi (24.77 Mbps), Idaho (25.30), Montana (25.70), and Maine follow Alaska as the states with the slowest Internet speeds in the US (26.05). 

Alaska has the lowest average Internet speed in the US

These states are fine for a few people to keep connected, but they are not suitable for businesses or professional players.

The states with the slowest speeds are generally rural with low population density, highlighting US's digital divide in the most distant portions. 

Optimize your Internet speed with some tips below

What is a good download speed? 

It depends on which type of your online activities as well as the number of gadgets connecting to your network, along with many other factors. 

However, it’s still lucky because your average download and upload speed satisfy the minimum Internet speed defined by the FCC.

Normally, if upload speed is faster than download or you realize your Internet network is slow suddenly, there may be something wrong with your network. 

Try out some tips to optimize your connection as fast as possible:

• Restart a router/modem

A hard reset allows your modem and router to temporarily resolve any issues that are causing them to slow down.

Restart your router

• A data cap

Check to see if your service provider has a data cap. 

If this is the case, your ISP may have slowed your connection to compensate for it.

• Updates are required: A software update may be required for your equipment. 

In most situations, all you need to do is connect your router to a computer via Ethernet and visit the manufacturer's website to install updates.

• Turn off unused devices

When you don’t use these devices, they still work and consume your bandwidth slowing down your Internet speed. 

Thus, kick off everything, and change to a strong WiFi password to get faster speed. 

Turn off unnecessary devices

• Clear cache

Data accumulation might be a dead weight for your connection to pull. 

Clear the browser history and cache on computers that connect to your WiFi if you haven't done so in a while.

• Call your ISP if the necessary

Sometimes slow Internet speed is just slow Internet speed.

So, call your ISP and upgrade your Internet plan. 

See also: What type of Internet connection do you have when upload speed differs from download speed?