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Calculators/Everyday/Mobile data usage
Everyday

Mobile data usage calculator

Daily and monthly data use from your mix of everyday activities, and how long a data cap will last.

What this calculator does

Mobile data usage works out daily and monthly data use from your mix of everyday activities, and how long a data cap will last. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.

The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.

The formula

FormulaDaily data = Σ(hours on an activity × that activity’s GB per hour)

The inputs explained

FieldWhat to enter
Browsing & social media (hours/day)A number, measured in hours/day. Starts at 1.
Browsing rate (GB/hour)A number, measured in GB/hour. Starts at 0.06.
Video streaming (hours/day)A number, measured in hours/day. Starts at 1.5.
Streaming rate (GB/hour)A number, measured in GB/hour. Starts at 1.5.
Music / audio streaming (hours/day)A number, measured in hours/day. Starts at 1.
Music rate (GB/hour)A number, measured in GB/hour. Starts at 0.12.
Monthly data cap (GB)A number, measured in GB. Starts at 50.

Worked examples

Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.

How the answer changes with browsing & social media

Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while browsing & social media varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.

How the answer changes with browsing & social media
Browsing & social media (hours/day)Daily data useProjected monthly useDays until the cap is reached
0.52.40 GB72.0 GB20.8 days
0.752.42 GB72.5 GB20.7 days
12.43 GB72.9 GB20.6 days
1.52.46 GB73.8 GB20.3 days
22.49 GB74.7 GB20.1 days
32.55 GB76.5 GB19.6 days