Refresh Rate Test
See how many times per second your screen updates, in hertz (Hz). The test starts by itself, checks for skipped frames, and lets you compare motion at your full rate and lower rates.
Your screen refresh rate
Measuring…
- Measured rate
- –
- Frame time
- –
- Frame time range
- –
- Skipped frames
- –
Time between frames
Each bar is one frame, newest on the right. Even green bars mean steady frames. Taller amber bars mean the browser skipped one or more frames.
Motion smoothness test
All three blocks move at the same speed. The top one moves on every frame, the others on every 2nd and 4th frame. On a high refresh rate screen the top block looks clearly smoother.
The test measures the screen this browser window is on. If you move the window to another screen, the reading updates by itself within a few seconds.
What is refresh rate?
Refresh rate is how many times per second a screen draws a new image. It is measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen updates 60 times a second, or once every 16.67 milliseconds. A 144 Hz screen updates 144 times a second, so motion looks smoother and the screen responds sooner.
Your browser draws one frame for each refresh. This test times those frames, works out how many happen each second, and shows the standard rate that matches.
Why use our refresh rate test
- ·Automatic. Open the page and the result appears in about a second.
- ·Exact numbers. See the standard rate, the exact measured rate, and the time each frame takes.
- ·Skipped frame check. A live graph and counter show when the browser misses frames.
- ·See the difference. The motion test puts your full rate next to half and quarter rate.
- ·Free and private. No signup, and nothing leaves your browser.
How to check your monitor's refresh rate
- 1
Open the page and wait a moment
The test starts by itself. After about a second it shows your screen's refresh rate in hertz (Hz). There is nothing to click.
- 2
Read your refresh rate
The large number is the standard rate your screen is running at, such as 60, 120, or 144 Hz. Measured rate shows the exact value, which is often a little off, like 59.94 Hz.
- 3
Check for skipped frames
The graph shows the time between each frame. Even green bars mean steady frames. Amber bars and a rising skipped frames count mean the browser missed some frames.
- 4
Compare the motion lanes
Watch the three moving blocks. The top one moves on every frame, the others on every 2nd and 4th frame. Change the speed to make the difference easier to see.
Common screen refresh rates and frame times
Frame time is how long each image stays on screen, which is 1,000 divided by the refresh rate. It matches the Frame time number in the test above.
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Where you usually find it |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.67 ms | Most office monitors, laptops, and many phones |
| 75 Hz | 13.33 ms | Some budget monitors |
| 90 Hz | 11.11 ms | Some phones and VR headsets |
| 120 Hz | 8.33 ms | High refresh phones and tablets, ProMotion screens, many TVs |
| 144 Hz | 6.94 ms | Common gaming monitors |
| 165 Hz | 6.06 ms | Gaming monitors and laptops |
| 240 Hz | 4.17 ms | Fast gaming monitors |
| 360 Hz and up | 2.78 ms or less | Monitors made for competitive esports |
Why the refresh rate test shows a lower rate than your screen
If you paid for a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor and the test says 60 Hz, the screen is almost always fine. One of these is usually the reason:
- ·The setting is still at 60 Hz. Many computers start a new monitor at 60 Hz. Change it in your display settings (steps below).
- ·The cable or port cannot carry it. An older HDMI cable or port may top out below your monitor's full rate at its resolution. Use the cable that came with the monitor, or DisplayPort, and check the manual for which port supports the top rate.
- ·You are using Safari. Safari limits web pages to 60 frames per second by default, even on 120 Hz ProMotion screens. Try Chrome or Firefox.
- ·A battery saver mode is on. Low Power Mode on iPhone caps the screen at 60 Hz, and laptop battery saver modes can lower the rate or make the browser draw fewer frames. Plug in and turn it off.
- ·The window is on another screen. With more than one monitor, the test measures the one the browser window is on.
- ·The computer is busy. If the reading jumps around or the skipped frames count keeps climbing, close heavy apps and tabs and click Measure again.
How to change your refresh rate
After you change the setting, come back to this page and click Measure again to confirm it worked.
- ·Windows 11. Open Settings, then System, Display, Advanced display. Pick the highest rate under Choose a refresh rate. With more than one monitor, select the right one at the top first.
- ·Mac. Open System Settings, then Displays, and choose from the Refresh Rate menu. The menu only appears for screens that support more than one rate.
- ·Android.The setting is under Display, and its name depends on the phone. On Samsung Galaxy phones it is called Motion smoothness. On Google Pixel phones it is called Smooth Display.
- ·iPhone and iPad. There is no refresh rate setting. Models with a ProMotion screen adjust up to 120 Hz on their own. Turn off Low Power Mode and Limit Frame Rate (in Settings, Accessibility, Motion) to allow the full rate.
Who uses a refresh rate test
- ·Gamers. Make sure a new high refresh monitor is really running at 144 Hz or 240 Hz, not stuck at 60 Hz.
- ·People buying a monitor, laptop, or phone. Check that a store display or a used device has the refresh rate the listing claims.
- ·Anyone fixing stutter. Find out whether choppy scrolling comes from a low refresh rate or from skipped frames.
- ·Web developers. See the frame rate the browser runs animations at on a given device.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I check my monitor's refresh rate?
- Open this page and wait about a second. The test counts how often your browser can draw a new frame, which matches your screen's refresh rate, and shows the result in Hz. You can also check the setting itself: in Windows 11 it is under Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, and on a Mac it is under System Settings, Displays.
- Why does the test say 60 Hz when my monitor is 144 Hz?
- Most often the monitor is still set to 60 Hz, which is the default on many computers. Change it in your display settings. Other common causes are a cable or port that cannot carry the higher rate, a battery saver mode, or using Safari, which limits web pages to 60 frames per second by default.
- Why does it show 59.94 Hz instead of 60 Hz?
- Many screens labeled 60 Hz actually run at 59.94 Hz, an older video standard that is still common. Small timing differences in your computer also move the measured number slightly. The large number rounds to the nearest standard rate, so 59.94 Hz is shown as 60 Hz.
- What is the difference between refresh rate and FPS?
- Refresh rate is how many times per second your screen shows a new image, measured in Hz. FPS (frames per second) is how many images your computer or game produces. If a game runs at 200 FPS on a 144 Hz screen, you still only see 144 images per second. If it runs at 40 FPS, the screen repeats frames and motion looks less smooth.
- Why does my iPhone or Mac show 60 Hz in Safari?
- Safari limits web pages to 60 frames per second by default, even on 120 Hz ProMotion screens, to save battery. Low Power Mode on iPhone and the Limit Frame Rate setting (under Accessibility, Motion) also cap the screen at 60 Hz. On a Mac, open this page in Chrome or Firefox to see the full rate.
- I have two monitors. Which one does the test measure?
- It measures the screen your browser window is on. To test the other screen, drag the window onto it and wait a few seconds for the reading to update. If the number does not change, reload the page after moving the window.
- What are skipped frames?
- A skipped frame is a refresh where the browser did not get a new frame ready in time, so the screen showed the old one again. A few skipped frames now and then are normal, especially while the page loads or another app is busy. A count that keeps climbing points to a busy computer, a battery saver mode, or a driver problem.
- Is a higher refresh rate better?
- For moving content, yes. A 120 Hz or 144 Hz screen shows motion with less blur and stutter than 60 Hz, which you notice when scrolling, moving the mouse, or playing fast games. The jump from 60 to 120 Hz is easy to see. Going from 240 to 360 Hz is much harder to notice for most people. For reading and office work, 60 Hz is fine.
- Does the refresh rate test work on phones and tablets?
- Yes. It works in any modern browser on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Phones that change their refresh rate to save battery usually run at their top rate while something on screen is moving, which this test does.
- Does this test send any data?
- No. The test runs entirely in your browser and only counts frames. Nothing is uploaded and nothing is saved.