How much upload speed do you need? A reality check for content creators

You're three hours into rendering a video. It's perfect.  

You hit export, grab a coffee, come back and the file's ready. 47GB of pure genius.  

Now comes the part nobody warns you about. It’s time to get it off your computer and onto the World Wide Web. 

You drag it into your browser to upload. Nine. Hours. 

Most people have no idea how much upload speed they actually need because internet providers don't really talk about it. While everyone is boasting about the size of their download speed, it’s the upload speed that needs to mean more to creators.  

Scroll on to figure out how much upload speed you need based on what you're actually doing.  

Upload Vs Download

The great ‘upload’ vs ‘download’ debate: Why one matters more than you think…  

Most people know what download speed is. It tells you how quickly you can inhale the next episode of the K-Drama you’ve been watching.  

Upload speed is the opposite direction. It’s the speed that’s needed to send data out to the internet.  

And for most people, upload speed doesn't matter much because they're not uploading much. Obsessing over 10 pictures in your carousel dump? Posting an update on Letterboxd after watching that latest Leo movie? Type A, booking a Euro summer holiday? You don’t need a lot of upload speed.  

But if you're a content creator, the backbone of your entire workflow is on upload speed: 

• Posting edited videos of your trip to YouTube 

• Sending project files after the ump-teenth edit to clients 

• Backing up all your videos and photos from a magazine shoot   

• Just chatting on Twitch  

• Calling with collaborators  

These days, most internet plans are for the Netflix-streamers amongst you, not the creatives and content creators who need every frame, upload and live stream to work.  

Advertised speeds rarely tell the full story. You need to know how the connection performs based on your actual needs.  

How much upload speed do you actually need?   

Let's break this down by what you're actually doing, not by what plan you think sounds fast. 

Regularly Posting on Social Media – Instagram, TikTok  

• What you're uploading: Photos (5-20MB), short videos (50-200MB) daily  

• Upload speed needed: 3-10 Mbps 

• Why: Even a 200MB TikTok video uploads in about 3 minutes on 10 Mbps. Social media files are small enough that most basic NBN plans handle them fine. 

YouTube Videos (1080p) 

• What you're uploading: 2-10GB files, depending on length 

• Upload speed needed: 20 Mbps minimum, 40 Mbps comfortable 

• Why: A 5GB video takes 33 minutes on 20 Mbps, 17 minutes on 40 Mbps. If you're uploading weekly, 20 Mbps is livable. If you're uploading multiple times a week, you'll want 40 Mbps to avoid wasting half your day watching progress bars. 

YouTube Videos (4K) 

• What you're uploading: 10-50GB files. 

• Upload speed needed: 40-50 Mbps minimum. 

• Why: A 20GB 4K video takes 67 minutes on 20 Mbps but only 34 minutes on 40 Mbps. At 4K file sizes, anything under 40 Mbps becomes painful fast. 

Cloud Storage Backups (Google Drive, Dropbox) 

• What you're uploading: Anywhere from 10GB to 500GB+ depending on your workflow. 

• Upload speed needed: 40 Mbps+ if you're backing up regularly. 

• Why: A 100GB backup takes 11 hours on 20 Mbps. If you're running backups weekly, that's tolerable. If you're syncing constantly, you need at least 40-50 Mbps or your sync will literally never finish. 

Video Conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) 

• What you're uploading: Your video/audio stream. 

• Upload speed needed: 3-5 Mbps for HD, 2 Mbps for standard definition. 

• Why: Video calls don't use much upload, but they're constant. If your upload is maxed out from other tasks, your call will freeze and drop.   

Live Streaming (Twitch, YouTube Live, Instagram Live) 

• What you're uploading: Continuous video stream. 

• Upload speed needed: 

  • 720p 30fps: 3-5 Mbps 

  • 1080p 30fps: 4-6 Mbps 

  • 1080p 60fps: 6-10 Mbps 

  • 4K: 15-25 Mbps 

• Why: Streaming is different from uploading a file. You need consistent, dedicated upload bandwidth for the entire duration. If you're streaming at 6 Mbps on a 20 Mbps plan, you've only got 14 Mbps left for everything else in your house.   

The Creator's Guide: Upload Speeds by Resolution 

Here's the practical breakdown based on the resolution you're working in. 

Working in 1080p (Full HD) 

• File sizes: 2-10GB per video 

• Recommended upload speed: 20-40 Mbps 

• Reality check: 20 Mbps is the bare minimum. You'll wait 30-60 minutes per upload. If you're posting multiple times a week, upgrade to 40 Mbps and cut that time in half. 

Working in 4K (Ultra HD) 

• File sizes: 10-50GB per video 

• Recommended upload speed: 40-50 Mbps 

• Reality check: This is where 20 Mbps becomes genuinely painful. A 30GB file takes over 3 hours on 20 Mbps. At 50 Mbps? Under an hour. The upgrade pays for itself in time saved. 

Working in 6K/8K or RAW Footage 

• File sizes: 50-200GB+ per project 

• Recommended upload speed: 50 Mbps minimum, 100 Mbps ideal 

• Reality check: If you're working at this level, standard consumer NBN plans aren't built for you. You need a plan with on-demand speed increases for when you're moving massive files. 

The warning signs of the big "bad" upload speed  

How do you know if your upload speed is actually the problem? Here are some red flags to look out for:  

1. Your uploads keep failing halfway through 

If you're uploading a 20GB file and it dies at 87% complete, that's usually a timeout issue from slow upload speeds. The server gives up waiting for you.  

2. Video calls constantly freeze or drop 

If your face freezes mid-sentence or you get the "unstable connection" warning every time you're on a call, your upload speed can't handle the continuous stream. 

3. Cloud sync never catches up 

If Dropbox or Google Drive shows "syncing..." for days and never actually finishes, your upload speed is too slow for the amount of data you're trying to back up. 

4. Progress bars lie  

Upload says "5 minutes remaining," but 20 minutes later, it's still going. That's because the estimate is based on current speed, but your connection is fluctuating wildly — usually a sign you're maxing out your upload bandwidth. 

5. You plan your day around uploads 

If you're genuinely scheduling your workday around when you can start an upload so it finishes overnight, your upload speed is holding you back. 

Managing devices and household usage 

Even if you have decent upload speed, other things in your house can choke it.  

Here's what's fighting for bandwidth:  

Reviewing your NBN plan for better upload speeds  

If you've identified that upload speed is your bottleneck, here's how to fix it and how to find a good upload speed for NBN:  

1. Check what you're actually getting: Run a speed test.  Look at the upload number specifically.  

2. Understand what the numbers mean in your NBN plan : NBN 500/50 means 500 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload. The second number is what matters for uploading, even if the first number is the one advertised!  

3. Compare upload speeds across tiers: Some NBN 100 and NBN 50 will have the same 20 Mbps upload. You'd be paying more for faster downloads but getting zero improvement in upload speed. Always check the upload number before bumping yourself up to the higher tier.  

4. Look for plans with higher upload: 40 Mbps or (even better!) 50 Mbps upload is the sweet spot for content creators. You'll actually feel the difference.  

5. Try an on-demand speed increase: Plans like Exetel's The One let you temporarily upgrade to 100 Mbps* upload for $1/day when you need it through Warp Speed. *Typical evening speed 860/85 Mbps. If you only upload massive files occasionally, this saves you from paying for permanent high-speed upload you won’t always use. 

6. Check if FTTP is available: Fibre to the Premises gives you better, more consistent upload speeds than older NBN tech like FTTN or FTTC. If it's available at your address, it’s worth it to make the switch. Just note that if you’re on HFC, you can’t convert that line to FTTP.  

Power your passion with THE ONE  

Let’s be real, no one wants to micromanage the internet. If you're waiting hours for uploads to finish, maybe your plan isn't designed for how you actually work. Imagine actually focusing on the creating part and not the uploading part.   

Switch to an internet provider that actually gets what freelancers and content creators need. Get the internet your content deserves… and watch more likes, shares and subscriptions (and paid promo posts!) roll in.  

FAQs  

What upload speed do I need for Instagram and TikTok content?  

3-10 Mbps is good for social media. Social media files are small (under 200MB usually), so even basic NBN plans handle them fine without slowdown.  

Many content creators with big dreams know that influencing on these platforms is rarely enough these days, so it’s worth taking a hard look at other places to make content.  

How much upload speed for 4K YouTube videos? 

At LEAST 40-50 Mbps. 4K files are 10-50GB typically, and anything under 40 Mbps means you're waiting over an hour per upload. Why push your internet to the limit, though? That’s the beauty of bumping it up to 50 Mbps.  

Can I live stream on 20Mbps upload? 

Barely. 1080p 60fps needs 6-10 Mbps, leaving only 10-14 Mbps for everything else. One person streaming The Pitt is enough to crash your upload. It’s like your workflow is the one that’s right in the middle of an emergency room.  

Why do my uploads fail halfway through? 

Usually, a server can timeout from slow speeds. The server expects the file faster than your upload can deliver, so it gives up. Only upgrading your upload speeds can fix this.