Live refresh-rate
– Hz
Measuring…
One-click Hz test that shows the real refresh rate and dropped frames.
Perfect for gamers, video editors, and anyone shopping for a new monitor.
Last updated: February 2026
Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times per second your display redraws the image. A 60 Hz monitor updates 60 times a second; a 144 Hz monitor updates 144 times. Higher refresh rates produce smoother motion, which is especially noticeable when scrolling web pages, dragging windows, or playing fast-paced games.
The measurement above uses requestAnimationFrame — the same timing loop browsers use to render animations. It counts the actual frames your browser delivers over several seconds and calculates the average. If the browser skips a frame (because the CPU or GPU was busy), it shows up as a "dropped frame."
Refresh rate (Hz) is a property of your monitor — it is the maximum number of new images the panel can show per second. Frame rate (FPS) is a property of the software — it is how many frames the game or application is generating per second.
For the smoothest experience, you want FPS to match or exceed your monitor's refresh rate. If a game runs at 60 FPS on a 144 Hz monitor, the extra refresh cycles have no new frames to show. Conversely, if a game runs at 200 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor, you will only see 60 of those frames — the rest are discarded.
V-Sync caps FPS to the refresh rate to prevent screen tearing (visible horizontal splits). G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD) let the monitor dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the GPU's output, eliminating tearing without adding input lag.
| Rate | Frame interval | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Office work, video playback, casual use |
| 75 Hz | 13.3 ms | Budget gaming monitors, everyday upgrade |
| 120 Hz | 8.3 ms | Console gaming (PS5, Xbox), iPads |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms | PC gaming sweet spot, esports |
| 165 Hz | 6.1 ms | Overclocked 144 Hz panels |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms | Competitive FPS, twitch shooters |
| 360 Hz | 2.8 ms | Professional esports, diminishing returns for most |
Windows 11/10: Right-click the desktop → Display settings → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate. If your desired rate isn't listed, check that you're using a cable that supports it (DisplayPort 1.4 for 4K 144 Hz; HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120 Hz).
macOS: System Settings → Displays → Refresh Rate dropdown. If the option is greyed out, your display may not support variable rates, or you may need a Thunderbolt / USB-C cable rather than HDMI.
Linux (GNOME): Settings → Displays → Refresh Rate. Alternatively, use xrandr --output HDMI-1 --mode 2560x1440 --rate 144 from a terminal.
After changing the rate, come back to this page to verify the new setting is actually active. Some monitors advertise a high refresh rate but default to 60 Hz until you manually switch.
A "dropped frame" means the browser missed a refresh cycle — it did not deliver a new frame in time. Occasional drops (1–2 during a measurement) are normal and can be caused by background tabs, system processes, or browser extensions. Consistent frame drops may indicate an overloaded GPU, thermal throttling, or a misconfigured compositor (especially on Linux with Wayland).
For the most accurate reading, close unnecessary tabs, disable hardware-heavy extensions, and avoid moving the window while the test runs.
For single-player and strategy games, 60 Hz is perfectly fine. For competitive shooters and fast-paced action games, most players notice a significant improvement at 120–144 Hz in smoothness and responsiveness.
This usually means the higher rate has not been enabled in your operating system's display settings, or the cable you're using does not support the bandwidth required. HDMI 1.4, for example, caps out at 60 Hz at 1440p. Switch to DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0/2.1.
There is evidence that higher refresh rates can reduce perceived flicker and motion blur, which may reduce eye fatigue during prolonged use. However, other factors — brightness, blue-light content, screen distance, and break frequency — have a larger impact on eye comfort.
Hz is the monitor's maximum output capability; FPS is how many frames the software is generating. You need both a high-refresh monitor and sufficient GPU power to actually see smoother motion.
Yes, to within about 1 Hz. The test uses requestAnimationFrame, which is synchronised to the display's vertical sync signal. The main caveat is that browser-level frame limiting (some browsers cap at 60 Hz in background tabs) can affect results — make sure the tab is active and in the foreground.