{
    "name": "Packet Loss Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/packet-loss-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/packet-loss-calculator.md",
    "category": "IT, networking & security",
    "description": "Calculate packet loss as a percentage of packets sent, plus the number lost and the delivery rate, from ping, iperf or interface counters.",
    "summary": "Packet loss is the share of packets sent that never arrived: (sent − received) ÷ sent × 100. The denominator is always packets sent.",
    "also_called": [
        "Packet loss percentage calculator",
        "Packet delivery ratio calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "sent",
            "label": "Packets sent",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1000"
        },
        {
            "name": "received",
            "label": "Packets received",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "987"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "loss_percent",
            "label": "Packet loss",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "lost",
            "label": "Packets lost",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "delivered_percent",
            "label": "Delivered",
            "format": "percent"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Loss % = (Sent − Received) ÷ Sent × 100;  Delivered % = Received ÷ Sent × 100",
        "variables": {
            "Sent": "packets transmitted",
            "Received": "packets that arrived (duplicates removed)"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "sent": "1000",
            "received": "987"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Lost = 1,000 − 987 = 13 packets.",
            "Loss = 13 ÷ 1,000 × 100 = 1.3%."
        ],
        "result": "13 of 1,000 packets were lost, a packet loss of 1.3%."
    },
    "interpretation": "Even small, sustained loss cuts TCP throughput and causes glitches in voice and video. Measure over enough packets: with only 4 pings, one lost reply already shows 25%.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Counts come from the same interval at both ends."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Routers often rate-limit ping replies, so ICMP loss at an intermediate hop does not always mean real traffic is being dropped."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Why can received exceed sent?",
            "answer": "Duplicated or retransmitted packets. Remove duplicates before calculating; this calculator rejects received above sent."
        },
        {
            "question": "How many packets should I test with?",
            "answer": "Hundreds or more. Each lost packet in a 100-packet test moves the result by a whole percentage point."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Network Latency (RTT) Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/network-latency-rtt-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Network Throughput Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/network-throughput-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Percentage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/percentage-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}