CenturyLink Speed Test in United States

Run a Speed Test

CenturyLink delivers DSL, Fiber (Quantum Fiber) in United States with typical measured speeds of 20–940 Mbps. Run a free speed test to see what your line is actually producing — and how it compares to your plan.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink sells both legacy DSL (typically 10–80 Mbps) and Quantum Fiber (symmetric up to 940 Mbps). Fiber results should match the plan within 5%. DSL is heavily distance-limited — if you are more than 3 miles from the DSLAM, expect 50% of advertised speed or worse.

Technologies CenturyLink uses

  • DSL
  • Fiber (Quantum Fiber)

CenturyLink plans are symmetric, meaning upload and download speeds are roughly equal.

Typical CenturyLink speeds

MetricExpectedWhat it means
Download range20–940 MbpsReal-world wired-test range across plan tiers
Plan floor20 MbpsEntry-level advertised plan
Plan ceiling940 MbpsTop-tier advertised plan
SymmetrySymmetricUpload matches download — ideal for video calls, cloud, and streaming

How to get an honest CenturyLink test result

  • Test on a wired Ethernet connection — Wi-Fi alone can hide 10–30% of your real line speed
  • Run one test mid-morning and one between 7–10 PM local time — the gap exposes peak-hour congestion on the CenturyLink segment
  • Watch ping and jitter, not just download — they determine whether calls, games, and cloud apps feel responsive
  • Run 3–5 tests back-to-back and use the minimum — that is the speed your real-time apps experience, not the marketing peak
  • If your wired test is consistently 20%+ below the plan, it is worth a support call to CenturyLink — provisioning drift is real and they will usually refresh your modem remotely

Frequently Asked Questions

What speeds does CenturyLink deliver in United States?

CenturyLink typically delivers 20–940 Mbps in United States across its DSL, Fiber (Quantum Fiber) plans. Run a wired Ethernet speed test to see what your specific line is producing right now.

Why is my CenturyLink speed test slower than my plan?

The three most common causes are Wi-Fi (can hide 10–30% of real line speed), peak-hour congestion between 7–10 PM on shared segments, and outdated router or modem hardware. Run one test on Ethernet mid-morning and a second at 9 PM to see the gap.

Is CenturyLink good for gaming and video calls?

CenturyLink fiber plans deliver symmetric speeds with low jitter and are excellent for gaming and video calls. For competitive gaming, aim for ping under 30 ms and jitter under 5 ms on a wired connection.

How do I run an accurate CenturyLink speed test?

Connect your device to the router via Ethernet cable, pause downloads and cloud sync, close streaming apps, and run 3–5 consecutive tests. Record the minimum result — that is the number that matches real-time usage, not the peak.

How we measure

The speed ranges and notes on this page combine publicly reported CenturyLink plan information with wired Ethernet tests run through SpeedTestHQ across United States. Figures are directional, not a guarantee — your actual results depend on your specific plan, address, router, and time of day. See our accuracy methodology.

Run a Speed Test

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All ISPs

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Cities where we track this ISP

Albuquerque, NM

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Arizona

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Denver, CO

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Idaho

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Kansas

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Mesa, AZ

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Montana

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Nebraska

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North Dakota

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Omaha, NE

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Phoenix, AZ

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Salt Lake City, UT

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South Dakota

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Tucson, AZ

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Related Guides

Speed Test Accuracy Tips

How to get a speed-test result that actually matches what you are paying for.

Wi-Fi vs Ethernet Speed Test

How much speed Wi-Fi is hiding from your real connection — and how to prove it.

Why Is My Internet Slow?

The six most common reasons your real speed is nowhere near the plan.

How to Read Speed Test Results

What download, upload, ping, and jitter actually mean for day-to-day use.

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