# How much data do I need for a trip?

Updated 12 November 2026. Page: https://findbestesim.com/blog/how-much-data-do-i-need-for-a-trip

**About 0.5 GB a day** for maps and messages, **1 GB a day** with social media and photos, **2 GB a day** if you watch video or share your connection. For a week that is about 4, 7 or 14 GB.

## Data for every trip length

Data needed for a trip, by length and daily use:

| Trip | Light (0.5 GB a day) | Medium (1 GB a day) | Heavy (2 GB a day) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 days | 2 GB | 3 GB | 6 GB |
| 5 days | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB |
| 7 days | 4 GB | 7 GB | 14 GB |
| 10 days | 5 GB | 10 GB | 20 GB |
| 14 days | 7 GB | 14 GB | 28 GB |
| 21 days | 11 GB | 21 GB | 42 GB |
| 30 days | 15 GB | 30 GB | 60 GB |

These are the amounts findbestesim uses to rank plans: a plan only counts for your trip if it lasts every day and carries at least this much data.

## What uses the most data

- **Messages and email** use very little: a text is a few kilobytes, a photo a few hundred.
- **Maps** use a few megabytes an hour while you navigate, less with offline maps.
- **Social media** with videos that play on their own can use half a gigabyte or more an hour.
- **Video streaming** uses roughly 1 GB an hour in standard quality and several in high definition.
- **Video calls** use roughly half a gigabyte to over 1 GB an hour.
- **Sharing your connection** with a laptop adds whatever the laptop downloads, updates included.

## How to use less

- Download offline maps of the places you visit before you leave.
- Turn off automatic app updates and photo backup on mobile data.
- Set streaming apps to download on Wi-Fi only.
- Pick a plan you can top up: if you run out, you add data instead of buying a new eSIM.

## Questions

### Is 1 GB enough for a week?

Only for maps and messages with care. With social media and photos, plan on about 7 GB for a week.

### How much data do I need for a month abroad?

About 15 GB with light use, 30 GB with normal use and 60 GB with heavy use. Above that an unlimited plan is often cheaper.

### What happens if I run out of data?

The plan stops working until you top it up or buy another one. Many providers let you add data from their app.

## Related

- [Unlimited eSIMs: how the daily limit works](https://findbestesim.com/blog/unlimited-esim-daily-limit-explained)
- [The cheapest eSIM in every country](https://findbestesim.com/compare)

findbestesim is run by the owner of Wigoo, Yapsim, Fizztrip and Olalatrip, ranked by the same rule as every other provider. Ranking rule: https://findbestesim.com/how-we-rank