Art-Net Bandwidth Calculator (DMX over Ethernet)
Quick answer: Enter universe count, refresh rate, and link speed. Get bandwidth usage and switch recommendation.
Calculate Art-Net network bandwidth based on universe count and refresh rate. Determines packets per second, bytes per second, percentage of link capacity, and recommends switch tier (unmanaged, managed 100Mbps, or gigabit). Built for lighting designers and AV network engineers planning Art-Net or sACN systems.
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Last reviewed: April 2026Report an error
Art-Net max 44 Hz.
Network Load
3.05 Mbps (3.1% of link)
704 packets/sec, 373 KB/sec, 3.05 Mbps. Using 3.1% of 100 Mbps link. Recommended switch: managed-100.
Packets/sec
704
Bandwidth
3.05 Mbps
% of Link
3.1%
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The Formula
bytes/s = universes × refresh_Hz × (512 + 30 overhead)
- 512 = DMX channels per universe (one byte each)
- 30 = UDP/IP/Ethernet overhead per packet
- refresh_Hz = Art-Net refresh rate (max 44 Hz per spec)
How to Use This Art-Net Bandwidth Calculator
- 1Enter total Art-Net universes (typical 1-32 for medium rigs).
- 2Set refresh rate (44 Hz is Art-Net spec max).
- 3Pick your switch link speed (10/100/1000 Mbps).
- 4Read bandwidth usage and switch recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- One DMX universe = 512 channels (1 byte each). A traditional DMX cable carries one universe. Art-Net packs many universes onto a single Ethernet cable.
- Both transport DMX over Ethernet. Art-Net (Artistic Licence) is older, simpler, broadcast-based by default. sACN (E1.31) is newer, multicast, and more efficient on large networks. Most modern consoles support both.
- For 1-4 universes, an unmanaged switch is fine. For 5-16 universes, managed 100Mbps with IGMP snooping helps with multicast. For 16+ universes, gigabit switches with IGMP and proper VLAN configuration are recommended.
- Higher refresh rate = smoother fades, but more network traffic. Art-Net spec maxes at 44 Hz; many consoles default to 30 Hz which is plenty for most fixtures. Going above 44 Hz can cause receivers to drop packets.
- Technically yes, practically no. Wifi has too much latency and packet loss for reliable lighting control. Always use wired Ethernet for show-critical Art-Net traffic.
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