How Much Data Does Streaming Use (2026)
Streaming is one of the biggest data consumers, and if you're on a capped or slower plan, it can quickly chew through your data allowance.
Whether you're catching up on episodes on Netflix or Binge, watching live sport on Kayo, or scrolling TikTok, understanding how much data each platform uses can help you stay in control of your connection.
This information is especially important for households in regional and remote Australia, where data limits and variable speeds make every byte count.
PLEASE NOTE: Data usage figures throughout this article are approximate and will vary depending on your device, network conditions, and how each platform encodes its content.
How Much Data Does Streaming Video Use Per Hour
The amount of data streaming video uses depends primarily on the quality setting. Higher resolution means more data use.
These figures vary between platforms, but the table below gives a reasonable baseline for estimating your usage. If you're on a limited plan, defaulting to SD for casual viewing can make a meaningful difference over the course of your monthly data plan.
|
Quality |
Approximate data per hour (General) |
|
SD (Standard Definition) |
0.3-0.7 GB |
|
HD (High Definition, 1080p) |
1.5-4 GB |
|
4K (Ultra HD) |
7 GB or more |
How Much Data Does Netflix Use
Netflix is the most-streamed platform in Australia, so understanding how much data Netflix uses is a good starting point for managing your monthly usage.
Netflix data usage per hour by quality:
|
Quality |
Approximate data per hour (Netflix) |
|
SD (Standard Definition) |
0.7 GB |
|
HD (High Definition, 1080p) |
3 GB |
|
4K (Ultra HD) |
7 GB or more |
How much data Netflix uses for a typical movie depends on your resolution settings. Netflix lets you control your data usage in account settings under "Playback Settings." Switching from High to Standard or Low streaming quality can reduce Netflix's data usage without a drop in watchability, particularly if you’re watching on a smaller screen.
Don’t forget that multiple screens streaming at once are all using data!
How Much Data Does YouTube Use
YouTube's data usage varies more than Netflix's because quality is often automatically determined by your connection speed. If your connection is strong, YouTube will default to higher resolutions, including 1080p and above, without asking.
Approximate YouTube data usage per hour:
|
Quality |
Approximate data per hour (YouTube) |
|
360p |
0.3 GB |
|
720p |
1.5 GB |
|
1080p |
3 to 4 GB |
|
4K |
10 to 16 GB |
How much data YouTube will use if you leave autoplay running can add up fast. A few hours of background YouTube at HD quality can use as much data as a full Netflix movie in 4 K.
Please note that YouTube's 4K usage is significantly higher than Netflix's, so if you have 4K-capable devices, you may want to check the playback quality and adjust YouTube’s settings.
How Much Data Does Kayo Use
Kayo is Australia's most popular sports streaming platform, and live sports tend to use more data than on-demand video because the stream cannot be compressed as efficiently in real time.
Approximate Kayo data usage per hour (as published by Kayo):
|
Quality |
Approximate data per hour (Kayo) |
|
SD (Standard Definition) |
1 GB |
|
HD (High Definition, 1080p) |
3.5 GB |
A full AFL, NRL or cricket match runs two to three hours, meaning a single game in HD could use up 10 GB. If your household watches multiple games per week, Kayo can become one of your largest data consumers.
Dropping to SD for live sport is a practical way to keep usage manageable without missing a moment of the action.
How Much Data Does TikTok Use
TikTok is deceptively data-hungry. Individual videos are short, but the continuous scroll format means most users watch far more content than they realise.
Videos also autoplay at higher quality on TikTok when a strong connection is detected.
Independent sources state that TikTok uses approximately 840 MB to 1 GB per hour of scrolling. An hour a day across a household of scrollers can add up to 25-30 GB per month from TikTok alone. Enabling data saver mode in TikTok's settings reduces video quality and background data use.
How Many GB Does It Take to Stream a Movie
How many GB to stream a movie depends on the length of the film and the quality setting you choose.
Movie streaming estimates are calculated over a two-hour movie:
|
Quality |
Approximate data used (Movie) |
|
SD (Standard Definition) |
1.5 GB |
|
HD (High Definition, 1080p) |
5-6 GB |
|
4K (Ultra HD) |
14 GB or more |
How many gigs does it take to stream a movie in 4K on a data-limited plan is a question worth asking before you hit play. A single 4K film can use more data than some households consume in an entire day of general browsing, emailing, and social media combined.
Example Monthly Data Usage for Streaming
Here's how streaming habits can translate into monthly data consumption:
- Light user: One person watching 1 hour of Netflix in SD per night uses roughly 20-25 GB per month from streaming. Switching to HD pushes that closer to 90 GB.
- Moderate household: Two people watching 1 to 2 hours of mixed HD Netflix and YouTube nightly, plus some TikTok, can consume 150 to 250 GB per month.
- Heavy household: A family with multiple screens running Netflix in HD, live sport on Kayo a few times a week, and kids on YouTube and TikTok daily can easily push 400-500 GB per month.
For households on Sky Muster satellite or fixed wireless plans with limited data, these numbers are a useful reality check when choosing a plan.
If you’re planning on regularly streaming data, it would be a smart idea to sign up for an unlimited data allowance plan, which are available on all technology types, including satellite!
How to Reduce Data Usage When Streaming
Small changes to streaming habits and settings can add up to big data savings. Here are some tips:
- Lower your playback quality setting manually.
- Turn off autoplay.
- Enable data saver mode where available.
- Monitor your usage regularly using your provider's app or account portal.
- Download content overnight if off-peak data applies.
For more tailored advice, check out our data-saving tips and our guide to saving peak data on satellite internet.
Choosing the Right Internet Plan for Streaming in Regional Australia
For households in regional and rural Australia, choosing the right plan is about more than just price. It's about finding a provider who understands the realities of accessing the internet in regional locations.
We specialise in connecting rural, regional, and remote Australians across all nbn technologies. Unlike metro-focused providers, our team understands the specific challenges of installations in locations other providers deem too difficult.
Contact us to discover the right nbn plan for your streaming needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Streaming and Data
How much data does Netflix use per hour?
Netflix uses approximately 0.3 GB per hour at Low quality, 3 GB per hour at Standard HD, and 7 GB per hour at High (4K). You can adjust this in your Netflix account settings under Playback Settings.
How much data does YouTube use in HD?
YouTube uses approximately 1.5 GB per hour at 720p and 3-4 GB per hour at 1080p Full HD. Because YouTube automatically adjusts quality, setting it manually in the app is the best way to control how much data YouTube uses.
How many GB does it take to stream a movie?
A standard two-hour movie uses roughly 1 to 1.5 GB in SD, 5 to 6 GB in HD, and 14 GB+ in 4K, depending on your quality settings and streaming platform.
How much data does Kayo use per hour?
Kayo uses approximately 1 GB per hour in SD and 3.5 GB per hour in HD. For live sport, where streams run two to three hours, a single game in HD can use up to 10 GB.
How much data does TikTok use per hour?
TikTok uses approximately 840 MB to 1 GB per hour of active scrolling. Enabling data saver mode in the app helps to reduce data usage.