The calculation
A worked example
A 5 Mbps stream watched for 2 hours a day over 30 days carries about 135 GB of media payload.
Count simultaneous streams separately
This estimate covers one stream at a constant average bitrate. If two screens run for the same hours at the same rate, double the result. For screens with different habits, calculate each separately and add the totals.
Why a provider’s counter may differ
Adaptive streaming changes bitrate as quality and network conditions change. Preloading, advertisements, audio, protocol overhead, game updates and cloud backups can add traffic. Some internet providers count uploads as well as downloads. Compare this planning figure against the provider’s own usage counter, especially near a monthly allowance.
Resolution is only a rough clue: codec efficiency and the content itself matter. Use measured app usage or a service’s documented bitrate where available. A month here means exactly the number of days you enter, not a billing cycle inferred from your account.
Source & further reading
Netflix: controlling data usage
Model reviewed October 25, 2026. Read our methodology and limitations.