Streaming data
How much data does Netflix HD use per hour?
3GB per hour
Netflix, High, HD: the service's own published figure, an upper limit
HD is what most people watch most of the time, on laptops, tablets and most TVs. Netflix's own figure is an upper limit.
The arithmetic
- Netflix states up to 3 GB per hour for High, HD
- That is 3 × 8 × 1,000 ÷ 3,600 = 6.67 Mbps on average
- A 2-hour film: 3 × 2 = 6 GB
- Two hours a day for 30 days: 3 × 60 = 180 GB a month
| Setting | Per hour | Per 2-hour film | 2 h a day, 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 300 MB | 600 MB | 18 GB |
| Medium | 700 MB | 1.4 GB | 42 GB |
| High, SD | 1 GB | 2 GB | 60 GB |
| High, HD | 3 GB | 6 GB | 180 GB |
| High, 4K Ultra HD | 7 GB | 14 GB | 420 GB |
Sources and assumptions
- Netflix Help Center, 'How to control how much data Netflix uses' (help.netflix.com/en/node/87), checked 2026-10-25. Netflix publishes these as 'up to' figures per device. Real use is often lower, since Netflix adapts to the connection and the title.