Are you wondering how long it will take to transfer your large video files? Do you need to know for sure so you can plan accordingly? Well, wonder no more! We’ve got all the information you need right here.
We’ll start with some basic information about file sizes and then move on to how long it will take to transfer those files under different circumstances. After that, we’ll give you some tips on how to speed up the process. So, let’s get started!
Contents
A quick primer on file sizes
Before we get into the specifics of how long it will take to transfer large video files, let’s first talk a little bit about file sizes – this will help you understand the rest of the information in this article.
Basically, there are two ways to measure file size: bits and bytes. A bit is a single unit of data, while a byte is eight bits. When people talk about file size, they’re usually talking about megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).
One megabyte is equal to 1000 kilobytes (KB), while one gigabyte is equal to 1000 megabyte (MB). So, if you have a video file that’s 1 GB in size, that means it’s made up of 1000 MB (or 1 million KB).
The average size of an HD video file is 3-4 GB. So, if you have a file that’s close to or even exceeding that size, it’s considered a large video file. Even if your file isn’t quite that big, but it’s still significantly larger than most others, then it would also be considered a large video file.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on and talk about how long it will take to transfer your large video files under different circumstances.
How long does it take to transfer large video files?
The short answer is: it depends. The actual amount of time it will take to transfer your large video files will depend on several factors, including:
- The size of the files
- The type of connection you’re using
- Whether or not you’re compressing the files
Let’s take a closer look at each of those factors so you can have a better understanding of how they’ll affect the amount of time it takes to transfer your files.
1 The size of the files
This one is pretty self-explanatory – the bigger the files are, the longer they’ll take to transfer. So, if you’re dealing with really large video files (we’re talking 10 GB or more), then it could take quite a while to get them from one place to another.
2. The type of connection you’re using
The speed of your internet connection will also affect how long it takes to transfer your files. If you’re using a slower connection (like dial-up or DSL), then it’s going to take longer than if you’re using a faster connection (like cable or fibre).
3. Whether or not you’re compressing the files
Compressing your files can help reduce their overall size, which makes them quicker and easier to transfer. However, compressing files can also introduce artifacts (like distortion or blurring) into the image, so it’s not always ideal depending on what you’re looking for. If image quality isn’t as important as speed for your particular project, then compression can help speed up the process.
Some examples for you…
Now that we’ve gone over some of the factors that will affect how long it takes to transfer your large video files, let’s talk about some specific scenarios and give you an idea of how long each one might take.
Scenario #1: You have one 4 GB file and are using a cable internet connection with an average speed of 50 Mbps. In this scenario, it would take approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds to transfer your 4 GB file using a cable internet connection with an average speed of 50 Mbps – not too bad!
Scenario #2: You have 10 GB worth of small videos totalling 100 MB each and are using LTE. In this scenario, each individual 100 MB clip would take approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds to upload/download – so for all 10 videos, this would sum up to 22 minutes. Not ideal if you’re in a hurry, but not terrible either!
Scenario #3: You have 20 GB worth of medium-sized videos totalling 500 MB each. In this scenario, each individual 500 MB clip would take approximately 10 minutes to upload/download – so for all 20 videos, this would sum up to 200 minutes (just over three hours). This could be problematic depending on how much time you have available.
The takeaway?
As we’ve seen, there are several factors that affect how long it takes to transfer large video files – the size of the files, the type of connection being used, and whether or not compression was employed.
In most cases, you can expect the process to take anywhere from several minutes to several hours. We hope this article was helpful in giving you a better understanding of all things related to transferring large video files!
