Ethernet Throughput Calculator: Optimize Network Performance

How Ethernet Throughput Works

This ethernet throughput calculator helps you estimate the actual data rate you can achieve on an Ethernet network. The "link speed" (e.g., 1 Gbps) is a theoretical maximum, but real-world throughput is always lower due to various overheads. These include the inter-frame gap (the quiet time between frames), the preamble (a synchronization signal), and protocol headers (like TCP/IP or UDP/IP). Our calculator accounts for these factors to give you a more realistic estimate of your network's performance.

Why is Throughput Lower Than Link Speed?

Every data packet sent over Ethernet carries extra information for addressing, error-checking, and synchronization. For example, a standard 1500-byte Ethernet frame has an additional 38 bytes of overhead (preamble, inter-frame gap, and frame check sequence). On top of that, protocols like TCP/IP add their own headers (typically 40 bytes). This means that for every 1500 bytes of your data, around 78 bytes of overhead are also transmitted, reducing the overall efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between bandwidth and throughput?

Bandwidth is the maximum theoretical data transfer rate of a network (e.g., 1 Gbps). Throughput is the actual measured data transfer rate, which is almost always lower than the bandwidth due to overhead and other network conditions. This ethernet throughput calculator helps you estimate the latter.

How do jumbo frames improve throughput?

Jumbo frames increase the payload size (e.g., to 9000 bytes) without increasing the per-frame overhead by the same proportion. This means more of your data is sent in each packet, leading to higher efficiency and better throughput, especially on high-speed networks.