FPS Test: Measure Browser Frame Rate Under Load
Watch your real frames per second, 1% lows and frame times, then add animated objects to see how your device holds up under load.
Frame times, last 300 frames (flat and low is smooth)
Measuring. Keep this tab in front for a few seconds.
Frames per second decides how smooth everything on your screen feels, from scrolling a long page to tracking an enemy in a shooter. But an average FPS number on its own hides the part you actually notice: the occasional slow frame that makes motion hitch. This FPS test measures both. It animates a chosen number of objects in your browser, times every frame, and reports your live frame rate, average, 1% lows, frame time and slow frames, with a chart of the last 300 frames.
Because the load is adjustable from idle to 20,000 moving objects, it doubles as a quick stress test. You can see how your laptop behaves on battery, whether a browser update helped, or whether too many open tabs are dragging performance down.
How to run the FPS test
- Leave the page in front and wait a few seconds. Measurement starts automatically at the 1,000 object load.
- Read FPS now for the live figure and Average FPS for the session so far.
- Check the 1% low. If it is close to the average, motion is smooth. If it is far lower, you will see stutter.
- Switch between loads to find where performance starts to fall. Stats reset each time so results do not mix.
- Use Pause if you want to freeze the scene, and Reset stats after closing other apps to compare.
How browser FPS is measured
Counting presented frames
Browsers draw animations in step with the display, and each new frame gets a precise timestamp. The test records the gap between consecutive frames and turns it into frames per second. At 60 FPS the gap is 16.7 milliseconds, at 144 FPS about 6.9. Because it measures real presented frames rather than a counter inside a loop, the result reflects what reaches your eyes.
Average versus 1% low
The average is total frames divided by total time. The 1% low takes the slowest 1 percent of recent frames and reports the frame rate they correspond to. Gamers use this figure because a game averaging 120 FPS with 1% lows of 40 feels worse than one holding a steady 90.
Slow frames
A frame counts as slow when it takes more than 1.6 times the typical frame time, meaning at least one refresh was missed. On the chart these appear as red bars. A few are normal. Regular red spikes mean something is interrupting rendering.
The load levels
Each object is a small square moving and bouncing across a canvas. Drawing 1,000 is light work for almost any device. 5,000 is a moderate load, and 20,000 pushes integrated graphics and older phones hard.
Understanding your FPS results
| Average FPS | How it feels |
|---|---|
| Below 30 | Choppy, visible stutter in motion |
| 30 to 55 | Playable, but not smooth |
| Around 60 | Smooth on a standard 60 Hz display |
| 90 to 144 | Very smooth on high refresh displays |
| 165 and above | Competitive gaming smoothness |
Your FPS can never exceed your display refresh rate in a browser, because frames are synced to the screen. A result stuck at exactly 60 on a 144 Hz monitor usually means the display is set to 60 Hz. Confirm it with the refresh rate test.
Why your frame rate drops
- Battery saving modes. Laptops and phones often cap frame rates and throttle graphics on battery.
- Hardware acceleration is off. Browsers fall back to slow software rendering. The WebGL test shows whether your GPU is actually in use.
- Heat. Thin laptops slow down as they warm up. Run the 20,000 load for a minute and watch whether FPS sinks over time.
- Background work. Video tabs, cloud sync and updates compete for the same resources.
- High resolution. More pixels mean more work per frame. Your figures are in the screen resolution test.
FPS test versus in-game benchmarks
This test measures how smoothly your browser can animate, which reflects your processor, graphics, drivers and power settings together. It will not predict a specific game’s frame rate, since games use far heavier 3D workloads. It is ideal for spotting problems quickly: a device that stutters here will struggle elsewhere, and a change in settings shows up in seconds.
Why smooth frames matter for reaction
Every frame is a chance to show new information. At 144 FPS you see a change up to 10 milliseconds sooner than at 60 FPS, which adds up in fast games. Try the reaction time test or the aim trainer after tuning your settings.
Tips for higher, steadier FPS
- Plug laptops into power and choose a performance power plan while gaming.
- Turn on hardware acceleration in your browser settings and restart it.
- Update your graphics driver, especially after a major system update.
- Close heavy tabs and apps you are not using.
- Keep vents clear so the device does not throttle from heat.
- Retest after each change, one at a time, so you know which fix actually made the difference.
For a full picture of your system, the browser information tool lists processor threads, memory and graphics in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good FPS?
60 FPS is smooth on a standard display. On high refresh monitors, 120 to 144 FPS or more feels noticeably better. Steady frames matter as much as the number, so check the 1% low too.
What does 1% low mean?
It is the frame rate of the slowest 1 percent of frames. It reveals stutter that an average hides. The closer it is to your average, the smoother motion feels.
Why is my FPS capped at 60?
Browsers sync animation to your display, so FPS cannot exceed your refresh rate. If your monitor supports more, set a higher refresh rate in your operating system display settings.
Is this FPS test the same as a game benchmark?
No. It measures browser rendering performance, which is a useful health check, but games use different and heavier workloads.
Can the stress test harm my device?
No. It only draws simple shapes. Your device may get warm and the fans may spin up, which is normal under load.
Why is my FPS lower on battery?
Laptops often limit performance and refresh rate on battery to save power. Plug in for the best result.
What causes stutter even with high FPS?
Background tasks, overheating and uneven frame pacing cause stutter. The 1% low shows how bad it is.
Does browser choice affect FPS?
Yes, slightly. Chromium browsers and Firefox render differently, so compare results in the same browser.
Is 30 FPS acceptable?
It is playable for slow content but feels choppy for fast motion. 60 FPS or more is recommended.
Related tools
Frames look smooth. Is your GPU really doing the work?
Check WebGL support, the graphics card your browser uses, and whether hardware acceleration is on, in seconds.