Quick answer: Uploading 1 GB (8,192 megabits) takes about 17 min at 10 Mbps, 3 min at 50 Mbps, 2 min at 100 Mbps and 10 s at 1 Gbps, allowing 80% of the line speed for real-world overhead. The formula: size in megabits ÷ upload speed in Mbps. That is still too big for email, so share it as a download link.
Upload time for 1 GB by connection
| Connection | Upload speed | Best case | Realistic (80% of the speed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G / LTE mobile (typical; often 5 to 20 Mbps) | 10 Mbps | 14 min | 17 min |
| 5G mobile (good signal; often 20 to 100 Mbps) | 50 Mbps | 3 min | 3 min |
| Home broadband (basic cable or DSL upload) | 10 Mbps | 14 min | 17 min |
| Home broadband (common cable upload) | 20 Mbps | 7 min | 9 min |
| Home broadband | 50 Mbps | 3 min | 3 min |
| Fibre (entry-level fibre) | 100 Mbps | 1 min | 2 min |
| Fibre | 500 Mbps | 16 s | 20 s |
| Fibre (symmetric gigabit) | 1000 Mbps | 8 s | 10 s |
Mobile rows use typical upload speeds; yours can be far higher or lower depending on signal, network and time of day. Broadband rows use the upload speed of the plan, which is usually much lower than the download speed on cable and DSL.
How the time is worked out
Time in seconds = file size in megabits ÷ upload speed in megabits per second.
For 1 GB: 1 × 1,024 MB = 1,024 MB; × 8 bits per byte = 8,192 megabits. At 20 Mbps that is 8,192 ÷ 20 = 410 seconds, or about 7 min. Real uploads rarely hold the full speed (Wi-Fi, protocol overhead, other devices), so at 80% it is about 9 min.
Watch the units: speeds are in megabits (Mbps), file sizes in megabytes (MB), and 1 byte = 8 bits. A "20 Mbps" connection moves at most 2.5 MB per second. We count 1 GB as 1,024 MB; Macs and phones count 1,000 MB and Windows about 1,074 million bytes, a difference of under 5%.
What 1 GB of video looks like
| Video | Bitrate | Length in 1 GB |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 1080p 30 fps (HEVC) | 8 Mbps | about 17 min |
| iPhone 4K 30 fps (HEVC) | 22.7 Mbps | about 6 min |
| iPhone 4K 60 fps (HEVC) | 53.3 Mbps | about 3 min |
| Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 4K UHD 29.97 | 707 Mbps | about 12 s |
Worked out from the bitrates on our video file size pages. So a 1 GB upload is typically a long phone video, a shoot's worth of RAW photos or a project folder.
Which apps accept a 1 GB file
Can you send a single file of this size (about 1 GB) as an attachment?
| App | Limit | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | Yes |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | Yes |
| Share Large Video Files | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |
Limits from our file size limits by app table, checked against each service's help pages.
Tips for uploading 1 GB
- On a phone, keep the browser in front and the screen on until the upload finishes; iOS and Android can pause a page that goes to the background.
- Use Wi-Fi rather than mobile data if your plan has a data cap: every GB uploaded counts against it.
- Uploading once and sending a link is faster for several recipients than attaching the file to several messages: the file is uploaded one time only.
Frequently asked questions
How long does 1 GB take to upload on 4G?
About 17 min at a typical 10 Mbps 4G upload speed, and about 34 min if the signal only gives 5 Mbps. On 5G at 50 Mbps it is about 3 min.
How long does 1 GB take on 100 Mbps?
About 1 min at the full 100 Mbps upload speed and about 2 min in practice. Check that 100 Mbps is your upload speed, not only the download speed.
Why is my upload slower than my internet speed?
Most cable and DSL plans advertise the download speed; the upload speed is often 5 to 20 times lower. Wi-Fi, other devices on the network and the distance to the server reduce it further. Run a speed test and look at the upload figure.
Is Mbps the same as MB per second?
No. Mbps is megabits per second; 8 bits make a byte, so 100 Mbps is at most 12.5 MB per second. That is why 1 GB takes about 1 min at 100 Mbps, not 10 s.
Can I upload 1 GB for free?
Share Large Video Files takes up to 20 GB per transfer, free and without an account. If your files are larger, split them into several transfers or zip them into parts.
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