Enter a file size and transfer rate.
Speed & transfer
File Transfer Time Calculator
Moving a big folder or backup? See how long it will take at your drive, network or cable speed, with overhead included.
Short answer: transfer time equals file size divided by transfer rate. The key is using the same units on both sides, which this tool handles for you whether your speed is in MB/s (drives, copy windows) or Mbps (networks, cloud).
What kinds of transfers does it suit?
Copying to an external drive, moving a folder across your home network, uploading a backup to the cloud or restoring a phone. Anywhere you know roughly how fast data moves and how much there is to move.
Typical speeds to try
- USB 2.0 flash drive: around 20 to 30 MB/s
- USB 3 drive: 100 to 400 MB/s depending on the drive
- Gigabit Ethernet: about 110 MB/s at best
- Typical Wi-Fi: 20 to 80 MB/s
- Home upload to the cloud: your upload plan divided by 8
Example
Backing up 50 GB at 80 MB/s is 50,000 ÷ 80 = 625 seconds, about 10.4 minutes. With 10% overhead, closer to 11.5 minutes. The same 50 GB uploaded at 20 Mbps (2.5 MB/s) takes about 5.5 hours.
Why a folder is slower than one big file
Thousands of small files make the drive and the system do lots of little jobs, so speeds drop well below the headline number. If you can, zip a folder first, or expect the real time to be longer than the estimate.
For internet downloads specifically, try the Download Time Calculator.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the File Transfer Time Calculator
How long does it take to transfer 100 GB?
At 100 MB/s about 17 minutes, at 30 MB/s about 56 minutes and at 5 MB/s about 5.5 hours. Divide the size in MB by the speed in MB/s.
Is my transfer speed in MB/s or Mbps?
Copy windows and drive tests usually show MB/s. Networks and internet plans usually say Mbps. This tool lets you pick either.
Why is copying many small files slow?
Each file has setup work attached. A thousand tiny files cost far more than one file of the same total size.
Can I speed up a cloud backup?
Run it overnight, use a cable connection and make sure nothing else is uploading. Upload speed is almost always the limit.
KEEP GOING
Related tools
Internet Speed Calculator
Type in your download, upload and ping and get a plain-English verdict, a score out of 100 and what your line can really handle.
Use this toolDownload Speed Calculator
Worked out how long a file took to download? Get your real speed in Mbps and MB/s, and see how it compares with your plan.
Use this toolUpload Speed Calculator
Know how long an upload took? Turn the file size and time into your real upload speed and see how it compares with your plan.
Use this toolMbps to MB/s Converter
Turn megabits per second (what your plan says) into megabytes per second (what your downloads show). Instant, no button needed.
Use this toolMB/s to Mbps Converter
Turn a download speed in MB/s into the Mbps number you see on your internet plan. Multiply by 8, done for you.
Use this toolKbps to Mbps Converter
Convert kilobits per second to megabits per second as you type. Handy for old plans, audio bitrates and mobile data speeds.
Use this toolResults are estimates for planning. Last reviewed 2 October 2026.