Packet Transmission Delay – Time to Send Packet

Calculate the time to transmit a packet onto the link from its size and link speed.

About This Calculator

Calculate the time to transmit a packet onto the link from its size and link speed. Use the calculator above for instant results.

Worked Examples

Example 1: 1500 byte packet, 100 Mbps

  • 12,000 / 100,000 = 0.12 ms | 8,333 pps max

Answer: 0.12 ms

Example 2: 1500 bytes, 1 Gbps

  • 0.012 ms | 83,333 pps max

Answer: 0.012 ms

Example 3: 64 bytes minimum Ethernet, 10 Mbps

  • 0.0512 ms

Answer: 0.0512 ms

Who Uses This Calculator?

🔧
Network Engineers

Link capacity and delay calculation.

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CS Students

Networking course study.

💻
DevOps

Network performance analysis.

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CS Teachers

Explain delay components.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Transmission is separate from propagation

Transmission: loading bits onto wire. Propagation: traveling through wire. Total = both plus processing and queueing.

❌ Large packets = more delay

1500-byte packet takes 10× longer to transmit than a 150-byte packet on same link.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 delay components?

1. Transmission (put bits on wire). 2. Propagation (travel through medium). 3. Processing (router inspection). 4. Queueing (wait in buffer).

Jumbo frames?

Standard MTU: 1500 bytes. Jumbo frames: up to 9000 bytes. Fewer frames for large transfers but needs switch support.

Why fragmentation hurts?

Each fragment = extra headers + independent routing. PMTUD avoids fragmentation for better performance.