It can vary from 1GB to 7GB per hour, but it’s complicated. Here’s what to know about Netflix data and how to limit data usage.
If you’ve got an unlimited mobile data plan, you might not worry too much about how much data your Netflix account uses. However, if you need to limit your internet bandwidth or the number of gigabytes you use, your data usage is important.
Although it can depend on whether you’re watching your TV show or movie in HD or 4K, here are the crucial numbers you need to know.
How much data does Netflix use?
| SD | Full HD | 4K Ultra HD |
| Up to 1GB per hour of video | Up to 3GB per hour of video | Up to 7GB per hour of video |
Downloading the content won’t save on data usage, either. It takes around the same amount of bandwidth to retrieve all the resources required to save the video locally, plus you’ll need to have the space to store it. These are worst-case scenario figures, though. In reality, the content that you stream could use a lot less data. It all comes down to how long the material is, the average frame rate, the color depth, and whether HDR is being used.
How to limit Netflix data usage
Of course, those of us on a strict data plan can’t afford to be shelling out 7GB per hour of 4K Ultra HD video, nor do we need to if we’re viewing on mobile. That’s why Netflix has built some neat features into its Android and iOS applications that let you limit how much data they use. You won’t be able to set a specific data limit, though, but instead, you have the choice of four basic options: Automatic, Maximum Data, Save Data, and Wi-Fi Only.