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Speed & Performance

Packet Loss

The percentage of data packets that fail to reach their destination during transmission. Even 1-2% packet loss can cause noticeable degradation in video calls and gaming.

What It Means

When data travels across the internet, it is broken into packets. Packet loss occurs when some packets are dropped due to network congestion, faulty hardware, or signal interference. At 0% packet loss, connections feel smooth. At 1-2%, video calls may stutter and web pages load slowly. Above 5%, many applications become unusable. Packet loss is more common on wireless connections and congested networks. Unlike speed, you cannot buy a "higher tier" to fix packet loss — it indicates a network quality problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Packet Loss" mean?

The percentage of data packets that fail to reach their destination during transmission. Even 1-2% packet loss can cause noticeable degradation in video calls and gaming.

Why does Packet Loss matter for internet quality?

When data travels across the internet, it is broken into packets. Packet loss occurs when some packets are dropped due to network congestion, faulty hardware, or signal interference. At 0% packet loss, connections feel smooth. At 1-2%, video calls may stutter and web pages load slowly. Above 5%, man...

Related Terms

Download Speed
The rate at which data travels from the internet to your device, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Determines how fast web pages load, videos stream, and files download.
Upload Speed
The rate at which data travels from your device to the internet, measured in Mbps. Critical for video calls, cloud backups, live streaming, and working from home.
Latency (Ping)
The time it takes for a data packet to travel from your device to a server and back, measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency means more responsive connections.
Mbps (Megabits Per Second)
The standard unit for measuring internet speed. One megabit equals one million bits of data. Not to be confused with megabytes (MB), which are eight times larger.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.