| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total bytes | {{ format(total_bytes) }} |
| Raw rate (B/s) | {{ format(raw_bps) }} |
| Effective (B/s) | {{ format(eff_bps) }} |
File-transfer time measures how long it takes to move a set amount of data across a digital link. The duration depends on the file’s total bytes and the sustained throughput of the connection, which network engineers report in bits or bytes per second.
This calculator converts your file size, bandwidth and optional protocol overhead into seconds and a readable days-hours-minutes-seconds format. Behind the scenes a reactive engine updates every field immediately, while an embedded charting layer visualises rates and cumulative progress.
Use it to plan overnight backups, share large media projects or forecast migration windows when bandwidth is scarce. *Check real-world logs before scheduling service outages for critical workloads.*
Transfer duration t equals the data volume divided by effective throughput. Volume is the product of size and its binary multiplier (1 KB = 1024 B), while throughput converts network speed into bytes per second and subtracts any protocol overhead. Accurate estimates depend on stable, congestion-free links.
| Duration | Perception |
|---|---|
| < 1 min | Instant |
| 1–10 min | Quick task |
| 10 min–1 h | Noticeable wait |
| > 1 h | Requires scheduling |
Longer transfers risk interruption from link drops, firewall resets or user impatience; plan retries or checkpoints accordingly.
700 MB file over 10 MB/s, 5 % overhead:
≈ 1 min 17 s
Method follows basic throughput theory and byte-count arithmetic as discussed in RFC 1242 and academic benchmarking papers on data-plane performance.
No personal or payload data is processed; calculations run entirely in the browser, satisfying GDPR’s local-processing allowance.
Follow these steps to obtain a precise estimate.
Network providers advertise bits per second, but storage and file utilities report bytes. Converting avoids a misleading eight-fold error.
The formula assumes steady-state throughput. Real performance can fluctuate with congestion, retries, encryption overhead or ISP traffic shaping.
Adjust the overhead slider to reflect framing, encryption or retransmission loss. A value between 2 % and 15 % suits most TCP transfers.
No. Size, bandwidth and overhead values stay in your browser’s memory and disappear when you reload or close the page.
Protocol headers, acknowledgements and retransmissions consume bandwidth. Subtracting overhead reveals the throughput available for actual payload bytes.