T-Mobile Coverage Map

Does T-Mobile have good cell coverage?

by
Stetson Doggett
|
Updated:
June 24, 2023

If you’re in search of a new cell phone plan, you may have come across T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is known for offering more affordable cell phone plans than the other two major carriers, Verizon and AT&T. 

But, how does T-Mobile’s coverage hold up?

Will T-Mobile still give you service in the areas you need it? Or is it worth paying a few extra bucks to get a plan on one of the other networks?

In this article, we will explore T-Mobile’s coverage and compare it to the other major carriers to help you make an informed decision.

T-Mobile Coverage

T-Mobile is a mobile network operator, or MNO, which means it builds and operates its own network.

T-Mobile puts up towers, installs equipment, purchases spectrum licenses from the FCC, and develops its own LTE and 5G network cores to manage the back-end of the network.

T-Mobile also publishes its own coverage map.

But… let’s just say T-Mobile's self-published map can be a little overly optimistic.

On June 30th, 2022, the FCC collected signal strength data from the carriers to help create more accurate coverage maps.

The FCC made the data publicly available, so we used the data to create a custom map of T-Mobile's coverage.

We didn't just want to rely on the FCC data though. So, we created a crowd-sourced map of T-Mobile's network. The map is created from over 1.6 million speed tests submitted by real T-Mobile customers.

Check out both maps below:

Map Key:
Great coverage
Good coverage
Poor coverage
Great coverage = stream 4K videos, video call, use your phone to its fullest potential
Good coverage = stream 480p videos, browse social media, stream music, use the web
Poor coverage = make phone calls, send a text
*The Estimated Coverage Map is created with coverage data from the FCC

T-Mobile Coverage Quick Stats

  • Network: T-Mobile
  • Total area covered: 35%
  • Total square miles covered: 1,279,933
  • 5G area covered: 26%
  • 5G square miles covered: 910,378

The above data comes from the FCC, which collected data from all network operators on June 30th, 2022.

The FCC displays what percentage of area in the United States each carrier covers. 

Currently, the network with the highest percentage of area covered is just 55%. This may seem lower than you would expect, but it’s because large areas of rural land where no one lives, like the vast wilderness of Alaska (17.5% of the land area of the United States) remain uncovered.

We calculate the total square miles covered by T-Mobile’s network by multiplying the percentage of area covered by the total area of the United States, which was reported as 3,805,927 by the United States Census Bureau.

What network does T-Mobile use?

T-Mobile uses their own 4G LTE and 5G networks to provide coverage.

T-Mobile 5G Coverage

T-Mobile 5G signal strength map
T-Mobile's 5G signal strength map, as reported to the FCC

T-Mobile is one of the leading providers when it comes to 5G coverage. 

They cover about 26% of the United States land area with 5G.

According to T-Mobile, its 5G network covers 98% of the US population.

T-Mobile has been rapidly expanding and building out its 5G network since its acquisition of Sprint in 2020, and many people are seeing dramatic improvements in T-Mobile’s network since they last used it. 

If you haven’t used T-Mobile in a while, it may be worth taking advantage of T-Mobile’s free trial offer to test the service in your area.

T-Mobile LTE Coverage

T-Mobile LTE coverage map
T-Mobile LTE coverage, as reported by the FCC

T-Mobile’s nationwide LTE network covers 99% of Americans.

T-Mobile vs. AT&T Coverage

T-Mobile coverage is a little bit worse than AT&T coverage.

AT&T covers more of the United States than T-Mobile, with 55% total coverage compared to 35% total coverage.

However, both providers have similar 5G footprints. T-Mobile 5G covers 26% of the area in the US with 5G, while AT&T’s 5G network covers 31%.

T-Mobile also has faster median download and upload speeds than AT&T, as reported by Ookla.

Both T-Mobile and AT&T will likely perform well in cities, but in more rural areas AT&T may be a better option.

You can check AT&T coverage in your area here

T-Mobile vs. Verizon Coverage

T-Mobile’s coverage is a little bit worse than Verizon’s coverage.

T-Mobile covers 34% of the United States, while Verizon covers an impressive 55% of the United States.

That said, T-Mobile has more 5G coverage than Verizon does. T-Mobile boasts 26% 5G coverage compared, while Verizon only has 12% 5G coverage.

T-Mobile also has faster speeds than Verizon, getting median download speeds of 151 Mbps and median upload speeds of 12.5 Mbps.

Verizon got median speeds of just 69 Mbps down and 9.3 Mbps up.

Both carriers will likely provide adequate coverage in major cities, and T-Mobile will likely deliver faster speeds.

Verizon’s more expansive coverage footprint will likely come in handy outside of major cities, though.

You can check Verizon coverage in your area here.

T-Mobile Coverage by State

This data is from the FCC.

Sate Area Covered (sq km) Total Percent Covered Great Coverage Good Coverage Poor Coverage
Alaska 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Alabama 77,233 62.6% 23.4% 24.7% 14.5%
Arkansas 74,404 59.4% 17.8% 23.3% 18.3%
Arizona 105,436 39.3% 16.0% 13.5% 9.8%
California 186,985 48.5% 21.4% 16.5% 10.6%
Colorado 77,030 31.4% 9.8% 11.9% 9.7%
Connecticut 10,556 80.9% 45.6% 22.1% 13.2%
District of Columbia 179 98.6% 98.2% 0.4% 0.0%
Delaware 4,438 75.7% 31.0% 28.5% 16.3%
Florida 99,428 64.2% 29.2% 19.1% 16.0%
Georgia 95,876 68.5% 27.4% 24.7% 16.4%
Hawaii 7,031 27.3% 10.9% 9.5% 6.9%
Iowa 97,783 73.8% 20.4% 28.2% 25.2%
Idaho 70,595 35.9% 13.4% 13.4% 9.1%
Illinois 96,954 71.1% 26.3% 23.8% 21.0%
Indiana 72,771 84.9% 33.4% 30.2% 21.3%
Kansas 102,138 52.7% 12.7% 19.9% 20.2%
Kentucky 57,568 60.5% 22.4% 24.8% 13.3%
Louisiana 70,382 57.1% 19.6% 20.6% 16.9%
Massachusetts 17,201 69.2% 42.6% 16.0% 10.6%
Maryland 22,212 76.0% 38.9% 23.3% 13.9%
Maine 27,035 32.5% 10.6% 12.9% 8.9%
Michigan 84,507 37.1% 13.8% 13.7% 9.6%
Minnesota 125,736 61.4% 17.2% 23.1% 21.2%
Missouri 104,420 63.6% 20.2% 25.6% 17.8%
Mississippi 72,143 63.3% 17.4% 26.7% 19.1%
Montana 125,494 36.3% 10.3% 14.3% 11.6%
North Carolina 80,735 63.7% 25.8% 23.9% 14.1%
North Dakota 66,656 40.0% 7.7% 16.0% 16.3%
Nebraska 10,937 6.0% 1.5% 2.2% 2.4%
New Hampshire 13,342 60.6% 24.9% 21.8% 13.9%
New Jersey 17,371 84.6% 51.5% 19.3% 13.8%
New Mexico 159,521 55.7% 16.7% 22.5% 16.5%
Nevada 85,566 32.9% 12.5% 12.5% 7.9%
New York 75,537 58.8% 26.4% 20.6% 11.9%
Ohio 85,254 80.8% 35.8% 28.1% 16.9%
Oklahoma 105,776 64.3% 19.5% 25.2% 19.6%
Oregon 77,156 33.3% 14.0% 12.0% 7.3%
Pennsylvania 80,491 74.2% 36.6% 24.3% 13.3%
Rhode Island 2,659 73.1% 44.1% 16.8% 12.3%
South Carolina 56,738 75.3% 32.5% 26.5% 16.2%
South Dakota 79,636 43.9% 8.7% 18.0% 17.2%
Tennessee 61,784 62.3% 27.3% 21.8% 13.2%
Texas 319,601 50.5% 15.8% 18.2% 16.6%
Utah 81,087 40.6% 16.8% 14.8% 9.1%
Virginia 56,834 56.4% 22.2% 21.7% 12.5%
Vermont 10,537 46.5% 15.3% 19.1% 12.2%
Washington 75,843 45.2% 19.5% 15.7% 10.0%
Wisconsin 72,019 46.7% 16.5% 18.4% 11.9%
West Virginia 15,869 27.8% 10.0% 11.7% 6.1%
Wyoming 81,130 35.2% 8.4% 14.6% 12.2%

T-Mobile Data Speeds by State

This data comes from our crowd-sourced coverage map.

Sate Average Download Speed Average Upload Speed Average Ping
Alaska 10.5 Mbps 12.8 Mbps 199.2 ms
Alabama 101.9 Mbps 16.5 Mbps 100. ms
Arkansas 80.9 Mbps 14.4 Mbps 96.2 ms
Arizona 97.3 Mbps 15.8 Mbps 66.1 ms
California 110.1 Mbps 20.5 Mbps 55.4 ms
Colorado 85.6 Mbps 16.3 Mbps 86.3 ms
Connecticut 155.1 Mbps 21.7 Mbps 57. ms
District of Columbia 181.6 Mbps 28.8 Mbps 99.5 ms
Delaware 99.3 Mbps 19.6 Mbps 42.7 ms
Florida 115.7 Mbps 18.5 Mbps 75.7 ms
Georgia 139.3 Mbps 19.5 Mbps 93.1 ms
Hawaii 91.8 Mbps 19.4 Mbps 105. ms
Iowa 86.9 Mbps 14.5 Mbps 66.6 ms
Idaho 106.1 Mbps 18.8 Mbps 113.7 ms
Illinois 117.1 Mbps 18.6 Mbps 56.2 ms
Indiana 157.8 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 68. ms
Kansas 109.9 Mbps 15.6 Mbps 87. ms
Kentucky 127.6 Mbps 17.5 Mbps 88.2 ms
Louisiana 107.5 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 82.1 ms
Massachusetts 113.4 Mbps 19.6 Mbps 57.7 ms
Maryland 102.1 Mbps 18.3 Mbps 78.8 ms
Maine 60.5 Mbps 14.4 Mbps 77.8 ms
Michigan 94.8 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 63.3 ms
Minnesota 108.2 Mbps 17.1 Mbps 65.1 ms
Missouri 115.2 Mbps 17. Mbps 83.3 ms
Mississippi 91. Mbps 14.6 Mbps 95.4 ms
Montana 66.5 Mbps 15.2 Mbps 161. ms
North Carolina 95.9 Mbps 18. Mbps 72.4 ms
North Dakota 77.7 Mbps 10.8 Mbps 52.1 ms
Nebraska 137.1 Mbps 17.6 Mbps 78.8 ms
New Hampshire 92. Mbps 17. Mbps 49.3 ms
New Jersey 131.1 Mbps 23.3 Mbps 48.7 ms
New Mexico 48.3 Mbps 15.7 Mbps 194.7 ms
Nevada 119.5 Mbps 23.5 Mbps 66. ms
New York 128.6 Mbps 21.3 Mbps 64.7 ms
Ohio 143. Mbps 18.2 Mbps 61.6 ms
Oklahoma 101.8 Mbps 17.1 Mbps 63.5 ms
Oregon 130. Mbps 16.8 Mbps 60.9 ms
Pennsylvania 109.6 Mbps 17.7 Mbps 54.3 ms
Rhode Island 214.5 Mbps 24.3 Mbps 39.3 ms
South Carolina 92. Mbps 19.6 Mbps 88. ms
South Dakota 80.9 Mbps 11.4 Mbps 56.8 ms
Tennessee 132.7 Mbps 15.3 Mbps 80.4 ms
Texas 109.9 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 65.5 ms
Utah 99.9 Mbps 18.9 Mbps 106.1 ms
Virginia 91.3 Mbps 19. Mbps 92.3 ms
Vermont 73.6 Mbps 16.1 Mbps 61.2 ms
Washington 110.8 Mbps 17.3 Mbps 63.1 ms
Wisconsin 127.1 Mbps 16.2 Mbps 59.3 ms
West Virginia 46.6 Mbps 15.3 Mbps 91.1 ms
Wyoming 106. Mbps 18.8 Mbps 77.3 ms

T-Mobile Coverage Frequently Asked Questions

Is T-Mobile coverage good?

Yes, T-Mobile has good coverage. Its 4G LTE network covers over 99% of Americans, and its 5G network covers 98% of Americans, so chances are you'll be covered.

Does T-Mobile offer 5G?

Yes. T-Mobile covers over 98% of the U.S. population with its nationwide 5G network.

Does T-Mobile have coverage in Canada?

T-Mobile has roaming agreements with carriers in Canada to provide talk, text, and data services Canada.

Does T-Mobile have coverage in Mexico?

T-Mobile has roaming agreements with carriers in Mexico to provide talk, text, and data services Canada.

Does T-Mobile have international coverage?

Yes, T-Mobile offers international coverage.

T-Mobile partners with carriers in over 215 different countries and territories to make sure T-Mobile customers have service.

International data is typically included for free, but international calls are around $0.25 per minute. See T-Mobile's website for more details about international rates and features.

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