Data per hour by quality
A stream’s bitrate (in megabits per second, Mbps) sets its data use. Multiply the bitrate by 0.45 to get gigabytes per hour: one megabit per second for 3,600 seconds is 3,600 megabits, or 450 megabytes.
| Quality | Typical bitrate | Data per hour | Data for 3 hours a day, 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD (576p) | 1–2 Mbps | 0.45–0.9 GB | 40–80 GB |
| HD (720p) | 2.5–4 Mbps | 1.1–1.8 GB | 100–160 GB |
| Full HD (1080p) | 4–8 Mbps | 1.8–3.6 GB | 160–325 GB |
| 4K (2160p, HEVC) | 15–25 Mbps | 6.8–11.3 GB | 610–1,000 GB |
These are typical ranges; each channel sets its own bitrate. For comparison, Netflix says its standard definition uses up to about 1 GB an hour, HD up to about 3 GB and Ultra HD up to about 7 GB. See the source at the end of this page.
Where data use matters
- Mobile data on phones and tablets. An hour a day is roughly 35–55 GB a month in HD (720p), or 55–110 GB in Full HD. See IPTV on 4G and 5G.
- 4G and 5G routers in caravans, boats and holiday homes, where plans are often capped.
- Capped broadband and satellite plans with a monthly allowance.
On unlimited home broadband, data use doesn’t matter. The steadiness of your speed does. See internet speed for IPTV.
How to use less data
- Pick the lower-quality version of a channel when one exists (for example SD instead of HD on a phone).
- Watch on the smaller screen in lower quality. A phone screen doesn’t need Full HD.
- Turn off autoplay of channel previews in the guide, where your app has it.
- Stop the channel instead of leaving it running while you’re away. A playing channel uses data whether or not anyone is watching.
- Download the guide on Wi-Fi. Guide updates are small but add up on a very tight allowance.
Work it out for your household
Add up the hours each person watches, multiply by the data per hour for their usual quality, and allow for a few extra hours. For example, two people each watching three hours of Full HD a day at about 3 GB an hour use about 18 GB a day, or around 540 GB a month.