Data Cap Calculator
Find your daily data allowance from a monthly cap.
Default 30
Results update as you type.
How it works
If your internet or mobile plan has a monthly data cap, budgeting a daily amount helps you avoid overage fees or speed throttling, and this calculator works it out. You enter your monthly data cap in gigabytes and the number of days in your billing period, and it returns your daily allowance in gigabytes and megabytes, plus a weekly figure. The math divides the cap by the days, giving the average you can use each day to finish the month within your limit. This is useful because data usage is easy to lose track of — streaming video is the biggest culprit, with standard-definition using around 1 GB per hour, high-definition 3 GB per hour, and 4K up to 7 GB per hour, while music streaming, browsing, and app updates add up too. Knowing your daily budget lets you decide how much video you can stream or whether to switch to lower quality on cellular. If you routinely exceed the cap, you may need a larger plan; if you rarely approach it, a cheaper plan could save money. Remember that some months have 28 to 31 days, so adjust the days for your actual billing period. This calculator turns an abstract monthly cap into a practical daily target. Enter your cap and days to find your daily allowance.
Daily allowance = monthly cap ÷ days in period
The daily data allowance is the monthly data cap divided by the number of days in the billing period. Staying at or below this daily average keeps your total usage within the cap over the month, helping you avoid overage charges or throttling.
Source:Data budgeting
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter monthly data cap.
- 2
Adjust the options
Adjust days in billing period if they apply — sensible defaults are already set.
- 3
Read your result
Daily allowance updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my daily data allowance?
Divide your monthly data cap by the number of days in your billing period. A 100 GB cap over 30 days gives about 3.33 GB per day. Staying near or below this daily average keeps your monthly total within the cap, helping you avoid overage charges or having your speed throttled at the end of the month.
How much data does streaming use?
Video streaming is the biggest data consumer: roughly 1 GB per hour for standard definition, about 3 GB per hour for HD, and up to 7 GB per hour for 4K. Music streaming uses far less, around 50 to 150 MB per hour. Browsing, social media, and app updates add up gradually, but video dominates most data budgets.
What happens if I exceed my data cap?
It depends on the provider. Some charge overage fees for each additional gigabyte, some throttle your speed to a slow crawl for the rest of the billing cycle, and others simply bill for a higher tier. Any of these is unwelcome, so tracking usage against a daily allowance helps you avoid surprises and stay within your plan.
How can I reduce my data usage?
Lower streaming quality on cellular, download content on Wi-Fi for offline use, disable auto-play video, restrict background app data and automatic updates to Wi-Fi, and monitor usage in your device settings. Since video is the biggest user, dropping from 4K or HD to a lower resolution when on a capped connection saves the most data.
Should I adjust for the number of days?
Yes. Billing periods vary from 28 to 31 days, so use your actual period length for an accurate daily allowance. A shorter month means a slightly higher daily budget for the same cap, and a longer one a lower budget. Entering the correct days ensures your daily target truly keeps the whole period within the cap.