The Best Internet Setup for Working from Home

Did you recently ditch the nine-to-five grind in favor of remote work and find your internet isn't quite upwards to the job? We've been there as well.

Nosotros've got tips to help you optimize your internet setup for working from dwelling house, based on real life experience and hands-on inquiry. Plus, we've got tips on how to state a remote job and gear up your home office.

What kind of internet practice I need to work from habitation?

More than likely, your electric current net plan will allow you to work from dwelling without too many hiccups, but if yous're searching for a new Internet access provider, you'll want to look for reliably fast download and upload speeds and at to the lowest degree one terabyte (TB) of information per month.

  • Download speeds: Download speeds reflect how quickly you tin admission things online. Faster download speeds will load your websites, Netflix movies, and piece of work electronic mail more quickly.
  • Upload speeds: Upload speeds tell you how apace y'all can put things on the internet. Faster upload speeds will not only get that PDF fastened to your email in a jiffy but likewise continue your beautiful grinning looking picture-perfect during your Zoom call.
  • Information: Everything y'all do online uses data, with streaming and downloading large files typically using up the near data overall. Most net providers let yous to use at least i TB of data each month—but some offer the holy grail of unlimited data.

Here's a quick look at some general recommendations for how fast your download and upload speeds should be for unlike work apps.

Recommended download and upload speeds for work from home apps

App

Recommended download speed

Recommended upload speed

Zoomi

1.two–3 Mbps

1.2–3 Mbps

Slacktwo

200 Kbps–iv Mbps

100 Kbps–600 Kbps

Skypeiii

30 Kbps–8 Mbps

30 Kbps–1.five Mbps

Cisco Webex4

0.v–2.5 Mbps

0.v–3 Mbps

Google Hangouts Run across5

18 Kbps–3.2 Mbps

12 Kbps–iii.two Mbps

Equally you lot tin see, those speeds aren't anywhere near the 100, 200, or even 1,000 Mbps some net plans offer. But if you lot're working from home while your partner, roommate, or kids are using the cyberspace, too, yous'll desire more speed to ensure everyone stays connected and happy.

Not sure whether your current net plan tin handle your entire household getting online at the same time? Nosotros recommend checking what your actual download speed is with a speed test. If you're paying for speeds that are much faster than what the speed test says your download speed is, it might exist time to call your Isp or search for a new provider.

Google Fiber earned our selection for the fastest internet provider

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We've compared the download speeds of thousands of people across the The states, and we institute that Google Fiber gives its customers the fastest download speeds around. Find out which other ISPs requite you the almost speed for your buck in our guide to the fastest internet providers.

What's a good internet speed for working from domicile?

Nosotros recommend a minimum of 50 to 100 Mbps download speeds for working from habitation, and at least 10 Mbps upload speeds if you upload large files to the net.

If it's just you working from home and y'all're non tackling projects that require you to upload large files, like streaming on YouTube, attending video conferences, or delivering graphic designs to clients, we think you'll exist okay with at to the lowest degree 50 Mbps.

All the same, as soon as you lot add more people and more devices that all utilize the internet with you, you'll want to start adding more speed too. And if you are a YouTuber, photographer, or graphic designer, or if you hop on a lot of video calls, you'll desire to look for faster download and upload speeds.

Is 50 Mbps good for working from home?

We mentioned that we think 50 Mbps is a skillful starting speed for working from home. At least information technology is if it'south simply you lot hopping online to forward true cat videos to your friends or streaming a couple of episodes of Ozark.

At these speeds, you can probably add together another person who enjoys streaming and works from dwelling house likewise, as long every bit everyone'south online tasks are light. Simply we'd recommend looking for 100 Mbps or faster one time you've got iii people who savour surfing the internet during their work from home breaks or if anyone handles big documents, like PDFs, PowerPoints, or videos and graphics.

Is 100 Mbps expert for working from dwelling house?

Download speeds of 100 Mbps should keep most families productive at home. And when it's fourth dimension to hang up your chapeau and change into your 2d pair of pajamas, 100 Mbps is perfect for zoning out to episodes of Storage Wars while your partner plays Call of Duty and your teenager busts out the Switch to play Animal Crossing.

Is 200 Mbps skilful for working from home?

If you've got a smart domicile arrangement and a family that loves to spend virtually of their fourth dimension online, whether they're working or not, then 200 Mbps is probably a adept internet speed for you.

We'd recommend this much download speed to large households and to net power users. You know, the livestreaming, Plex-using, constantly-streaming folks. (Wait a second, that sounds like us …)

This goes for whatever speed beyond 200 Mbps, really. And if you're curious how other download speeds measure upwardly, check out our guide to how many Mbps y'all need, plus our recommendations for the all-time internet providers.

Where can I find work from dwelling jobs?

Not all of us are lucky plenty to piece of work from home, but if you retrieve a remote chore might exist a much-needed change of pace compared to your current state of affairs, these tips might assist.

one. Check out freelance sites

If y'all have a skill you can use at dwelling house, a freelance site is a neat place to showtime looking for remote piece of work. And if your original job wasn't achievable at dwelling, you tin always dust off your writing, pattern, photography, or other skills and build upward your remote work expertise on the side.

I thing to note, though, is that some freelance sites will take a cut of your commission. And so brand sure y'all factor that in along with healthcare costs and taxes when y'all estimate how many hours or projects you'll need to accept each month.

Here are some of our recommended sites where y'all can find freelance work:

  • Upwork : Dandy for writers, editors, translators, designers, and more, but your commission payment may be steep.
  • Fiverr : Every freelance job on Fiverr starts at $v, making it a keen fashion to build a portfolio and earn some greenbacks.
  • Toptal : Pairs design, finance, and other manufacture experts with big-proper noun companies, but yous'll demand an good skillset to get accustomed.
  • 99designs : Geared toward logo, site, graphic, and other types of designers.
  • FlexJobs : Includes freelance, remote, and other flexible jobs (but you lot'll pay $14.95 a month).
  • Freelancer : Features a variety of freelance gigs and gives you 8 gratuitous project applications before you accept to pay.

2. Filter your search on LinkedIn

If you're looking for a remote total-time job or contract, you lot can use LinkedIn and other job sites like Indeed or Glassdoor to find work-from-home jobs to apply for. Just change the location you're searching to Remote.

A screenshot of a job search on LinkedIn with the location set to Remote

Because of the way the search role works, this may still pull up in-person jobs that explicitly state "no remote piece of work," and then double-bank check the job description before you lot apply. You may even detect jobs located in other countries—we found a posting for a remote creative author at a company in the Czech republic.

3. Check out remote chore sites

It's a good thought to get your resume posted on remote job sites along with LinkedIn and Indeed.

Some of these sites require a subscription. That may seem counterintuitive if yous're currently out of work, only in return, they promise to match you with a curated list of high-quality leads. So it could exist worth it if it leads to the job of your dreams.

Hither are a few of our favorite remote task boards:

  • Stillhiring.io : A site featuring crowdsourced information about companies that are all the same hiring during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • WFH Only Hiring : A free chore lath featuring companies that are hiring for work-from-home roles.
  • FlexJobs : Costs $xiv.95 a month or more, but also includes job postings for freelance and part-time gigs likewise.
  • We Work Remotely : A gratis chore board featuring blueprint, programming, copywriting, didactics, and other jobs.
  • Remote.io : A gratis site that allows you to filter job postings based on your skillset.
  • JustRemote.co : Check out remote sales, marketing, Hour, and other jobs on this free task list site.
  • Remote Piece of work Superlative : You'll find a comprehensive list of companies hiring for remote work, freelance jobs, and other remote job boards here.
  • Remotive : You'll demand to pay to join this remote work community, just it's currently offer 50% off both the lifetime and annual fee—and the informative email newsletter is costless.
  • Remote OK : A free remote chore board featuring software development, marketing, design, customer service, and "non-tech" job listings.

Bonus: Catherine'south dwelling part setup

If you lot're working from abode, chances are you may need to tweak or even create a whole new office setup. Yous don't accept to go all out and spend thousands to exercise this, just I say it'south always worth the money to make sure you're comfy while you lot work.

Here'southward my electric current setup when I work from dwelling:

For typing and clicking

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The Logitech K480 keyboard might exist older, but it'due south a cheaper alternative to some of the other Mac-friendly wireless keyboards out at that place. I like that y'all tin set information technology to pair with your PC, too, and it's lightweight and modest enough to motility effectually easily.

Just while I swear by this off-brand keyboard, I wasn't impressed by how "sticky" the sensor was on the off-make wireless Mac mouse I tried. Using it was not a smooth ride, and so I splurged on the Apple Magic Mouse instead. And hey, it works like a charm (except for the strangest charging design that basically renders the mouse unusable).

For my gaming setup, I've had my Razer BlackWidow keyboard and Razer Naga mouse since 2012. They're holding up well, and I love the design on both. Of course, you can't buy those aforementioned models today, merely I'd be willing to bet the newer versions of both volition however assist you snag those skill shots.

And whether I'k using my Mac or PC, I admittedly honey my gigantic mouse pad. I recollect these are a must-accept because nothing is worse than snagging your mouse on the edge of your mouse pad.

Quick tip: Make sure you piece of work and play in separate spaces

Info Box

1 drawback to working from dwelling house is that your abode office may also be your relaxation centre. I bask PC gaming during my downtime, merely I quickly plant that when I worked at my gaming desk-bound, I never felt like I got to fully disconnect from work.

If you have the means to do it, I highly recommend setting up a separate space for working. This could fifty-fifty mean you find a quiet corner away from the living room where your family likes to gather and watch moves. That way, you can physically detach from piece of work when it's fourth dimension to "go home."

For listening and watching

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I think my Sony headset is the perfect compromise between lightweight and functional. The ear cups are padded, so it'south comfortable, and the band doesn't squeeze my head. The audio quality is too pretty great for a low-cost headset.

When I demand more than than i tiny little MacBook pro screen for work, I use the USB-C hub to hook my piffling laptop up to one of my Acer gaming monitors.

I dearest the 27-inch display—it'southward the perfect size to see everything coming when I'thousand in a raid or hands elevate, drop, type, and research when I'chiliad working. And the laptop stand makes certain I'm not angling my caput down while I work, which is a huge ergonomic no-no.

What headset do I use for gaming? It'due south complicated …

Info Box

I'm actually in the market for a new gaming headset right now, which is why I don't have a recommendation for one just yet. The Sony headset could work in a jiffy, merely I prefer a wireless headset for gaming. Wireless headsets are amazing if you need to get up to take hold of a snack or swap laundry to the dryer and don't want to miss the notification that your looking for group queue is ready to go.

But if y'all want to know, I'grand eyeing upward the Razer Nari headset. And if I had the cash, the Astro A40 looks appealing too.

For condolement and organization

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I dear my gaming chairs, and I recommend them often to my friends. They typically come with adjustable armrests equally well equally seats, and the more than expensive ones add lumbar pillows and headrests also.

I'd say a chair is 1 area you want to splurge a petty. I originally had a cheaper desk chair on this list, only upgraded to the Staples Hyken task chair considering I needed support for my head, cervix, and shoulders. The Staples Hyken offers a lot of ergonomic customizability for its cost, plus it'southward mesh back ways you won't work up a sweat.

I besides wanted to accept the option to stand and work, but a full standing desk kit was way out of my upkeep. So I researched standing desk converters and plant one by VIVO. It's solid, easily adjustable to any height (up to near twenty inches), and costs less than $150 (at least it did when I bought it).

And with two cats roaming my office, I knew I needed some cable direction to hibernate those tantalizing cords. I grabbed a pack of reusable Velcro cable ties also every bit the cable management box fabricated past DMoose. The cable box is a lifesaver because it non simply hides everything in an inconspicuous white compartment, but it doubles as a shelf also. Winning!

Tips for working from home

Now that many of us have shifted our offices to our homes, remote piece of work may feel like a bigger challenge than you expected. And for some who can't work from home, the idea of earning an income from your domicile role may seem like wishful thinking. (We accept some tips that will hopefully help y'all too.)

Will my internet speed be affected past working from habitation

If your internet speed feels slower than usual, y'all're not dreaming.

We studied cyberspace speeds during 2020 and found that they held strong. But with millions more people using the internet at the same time it can struggle to continue up.

Our suggestions? Take care of critical work tasks in the morn. We establish the all-time fourth dimension to get online, based on average download speeds over the year, was betwixt iv a.m. and 10 a.m.

Next, if your net speed isn't keeping up with Zoom calls, considering upgrading. Nosotros recommend an internet plan with 25 to fifty Mbps minimum to handle your Zoom calls—simply if you run a home part, more download speed volition likely do good you. Take a peek at our guide to internet speed for easy tips on how to calculate what speed you demand.

Want faster internet speed? Use an Ethernet cable.

Light Bulb

Wi-Fi is great, but it tends to lose strength if you put a lot of distance and objects between your device and the router. If you want the fastest speeds you tin go, goose egg beats a practiced old Ethernet cable.

Pair that with the fact that most of our home internet plans have much less bandwidth, or capacity, than an part internet plan.

Call up of it this way: your part's net bandwidth is similar a four-lane highway with much more room for each person to pass others and even maintain a fast speed while in the same lane.

But often our home internet plans are more similar a two-lane road. We've got a little scrap of room to speed upwards and pass that slower traffic, but it'southward a lot easier for traffic jams to happen when more people showtime driving downward that road at the same fourth dimension.

So what can y'all do nigh slow internet speed? Bated from calling your internet service provider (ISP), you tin effort the post-obit:

  • Restart your router. Restarting your router flushes out any errors in its memory that might be interrupting your internet connection or slowing it down.
  • Buy a new router. If your router is older, it might be time to upgrade it. Newer routers are meliorate equipped to continue your internet speed moving forth quickly. Not sure where to start shopping? Take a look at our favorite routers.
  • Try some of our other tips for speeding up your internet. From repositioning your router to clearing your cache, we've got 10 tips to speed upward your cyberspace service before y'all have to await on hold with your Internet service provider.

Now that you know the all-time internet setup for working from home, check this out next.

Wait for cheaper or faster internet plans in your surface area.

Desire to be a digital nomad? Compare your rural cyberspace options.

Sources

  1. Zoom, "System Requirements for PC, Mac, and Linux," 2020. Accessed December vii, 2020.
  2. Slack, "Troubleshoot Slack Calls," 2020. Accessed December 7, 2020.
  3. Skype, "How Much Bandwidth Does Skype Need?," 2020. Accessed Dec 7, 2020.
  4. Webex, "What Are the Minimum Bandwidth Requirements for Sending and Receiving Video in Cisco Webex Meetings?," May 2020. Accessed December 7, 2020.
  5. Google, "Gear up Your Network," 2020. Accessed December vii, 2020.

Catherine McNally

Written by

Catherine McNally

Catherine has a degree in journalism and an MBA, and has spent the last 10+ years writing everything from Okinawa travel guides to stories on Medium. She's been online since AOL CDs were a thing and is an unapologetic PC gamer. She believes the internet is a necessity, not a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to help everyone stay connected. You lot can also find her on Twitter: @CMReviewsIt.

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