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How much mobile data do you need per month?

From video, music, social media, navigation and hotspot use, estimate your monthly mobile data – and find a tariff pack with a suitable buffer.

Updated: 14 September 2026 Reading time: 2 min Tim Jungeblut Editorial methodology
Your usage profile: minutes per dayNo sign-up
Video quality
Video minutes per day
Social media minutes per day
Music & podcasts minutes per day
Navigation minutes per day
Hotspot minutes per day
Result with a 20 % buffer

100GB

Modelled usage
60,7 GB
Buffer
+12,1 GB

The result is a model calculation. Automatic app updates, video quality and Wi-Fi use can change your actual usage considerably.

See suitable mobile tariffs
On this page
  1. Rough guide values per hour
  2. Cross-check your usage
  3. Tight or generous?

The calculator turns typical weekly figures into a monthly requirement and adds a moderate buffer. Wi-Fi use should not be counted as mobile data use.

Rough guide values per hour

The calculator works with usage figures per hour and scales your weekly entries up to a month, with a moderate buffer. The orders of magnitude help you estimate even without the calculator.

Video quality is what matters: between SD, HD and 4K the differences are multiples, not percentages. If you mainly listen to music and read messages on the go, you will need very little.

  • Music streaming: at the lower end
  • Video in SD: considerably less than HD
  • Video in HD: mid-range
  • Video in 4K: by far the largest item
  • Hotspot for a laptop or tablet: plan for this separately

Cross-check your usage

Compare the result with the last three months in your device’s or provider’s usage display. Holidays, commuting and hotspot use can push individual months up considerably.

Tight or generous?

A pack that is too small leads to throttling; one that is too large you pay for every month. As many tariffs can now be adjusted during the year, the tighter choice with the option to upgrade is usually cheaper than a buffer just in case.

Also check what happens once the allowance is used up: throttling to what speed, automatic top-up or a block. This varies considerably between tariffs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the estimate of my monthly data use?

Compare the result with the mobile data usage in your smartphone's settings or with your provider. Look at several typical months, and make sure the measurement period shown matches your billing period.

Does Wi-Fi use count towards my mobile data allowance?

No. Data sent over Wi-Fi runs through the fixed-line connection and is not counted against your mobile data allowance. For choosing a tariff, only what actually goes over the mobile network counts – which is why your needs are often well below your smartphone's total usage.

How much data does an hour of video use?

Usage depends mainly on the resolution and multiplies from low quality through HD to 4K. Exact figures vary by service and codec. The most effective way to limit usage is to reduce the streaming quality on mobile networks in the app settings.

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