MikroTik bandwidth limit per user: simple queues and PCQ

Last updated: 2 October 2026

Speed limits on MikroTik are done with queues. One queue can limit one device, or a single queue with PCQ can give every device on the network the same speed without a rule per user.

Before you change a live router: take a backup (how) and turn on Safe Mode in Winbox, so a mistake that locks you out is undone by itself.

First: FastTrack

Routers with the default configuration have a FastTrack firewall rule. Traffic handled by FastTrack skips queues, so limits appear not to work. Disable that rule when you use queues:

/ip firewall filter disable [find action=fasttrack-connection]

Limit one device

/queue simple add name=ali-laptop target=192.168.88.10/32 max-limit=2M/5M

max-limit=2M/5M is 2 Mbps upload and 5 Mbps download for that address.

The same speed for everyone, with one rule

/queue type add name=pcq-up kind=pcq pcq-rate=2M pcq-classifier=src-address
/queue type add name=pcq-down kind=pcq pcq-rate=5M pcq-classifier=dst-address
/queue simple add name=lan-each target=192.168.88.0/24 queue=pcq-up/pcq-down

Each address in the network gets up to 2 Mbps up and 5 Mbps down. Set pcq-rate=0 to share the line equally instead of capping each user.

Cap the whole network as well

/queue simple set lan-each max-limit=20M/50M

Order matters

Simple queues are checked from the top. Put specific queues (one address) above general ones (a whole network):

/queue simple print
/queue simple move [find name=ali-laptop] 0

See what a queue is doing

/queue simple print stats

Where RadiusNest fits

For hotspot and PPPoE customers you do not need queues by hand: the speed belongs to the customer's package. With RadiusNest the router creates the right limit when the customer logs in and removes it when they leave, whatever address they get.

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Questions and answers

Why is my queue not limiting anything?

Almost always FastTrack. Disable the fasttrack-connection rule and test again.

Which number is download in max-limit?

The second. max-limit=2M/5M means 2 Mbps upload and 5 Mbps download for the target.

Simple queue or queue tree?

Simple queues are enough for most small networks. Queue trees suit complex priorities and need packet marks.

Related guides

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