Refresh Rate Test: Check Your Monitor Hz
The tester times every frame your browser draws and shows your real refresh rate, frame time, jitter and dropped frames, plus a motion strip to judge blur.
Measuring. Keep this tab in front and avoid moving other windows for a few seconds.
Frame times, last 240 frames (lower and flatter is better)
You paid for a 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor, but that number on the box only matters if your computer actually sends that many frames. It is surprisingly common for a high refresh display to run at 60 Hz for months because of a default setting, the wrong cable, or a port that cannot carry the bandwidth. This refresh rate test measures what your screen is doing right now, in your browser, within a few seconds.
Alongside the refresh rate it shows frame time, jitter and dropped frames, draws a live chart of every frame, and includes a motion strip so you can see the difference in smoothness with your own eyes.
How to test your refresh rate
- Open the page and leave it in front. Measurement starts automatically.
- Keep the mouse still and avoid moving other windows for a few seconds while samples collect.
- Read the refresh rate tile. It snaps the measurement to the nearest standard value, such as 60, 144 or 240 Hz.
- Check the measured value, frame time and jitter beside it for the exact numbers.
- Watch the motion strip at different speeds to judge smoothness and blur.
If you change a setting, press Measure again for a fresh reading.
How the refresh rate is measured
One callback per refresh
Browsers draw animations in step with the display. Each time the screen refreshes, the browser gives the page one chance to update. The test records the exact time of each of those chances and measures the interval between them. At 144 Hz the interval is about 6.94 milliseconds, at 60 Hz about 16.67.
Why the median
Occasionally the system is busy and a frame arrives late. Averages get pulled up by those hiccups, so the test uses the median of the last 240 intervals, which reflects the true cadence of the display. The result is then matched to the nearest common refresh rate when it is within a few percent.
Jitter and dropped frames
Jitter is how much the frame intervals vary. Low jitter means perfectly even frames. Dropped frames are counted whenever an interval is more than one and a half times the normal length, meaning at least one refresh was missed.
Understanding your results
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Typical displays |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Office monitors, most laptops |
| 75 Hz | 13.3 ms | Budget monitors with a mild boost |
| 120 or 144 Hz | 8.3 or 6.9 ms | Gaming monitors, modern phones |
| 165 to 180 Hz | 6.1 to 5.6 ms | Mid range gaming monitors |
| 240 Hz and above | 4.2 ms or less | Esports monitors |
On the frame time chart, a flat row of teal bars is ideal. Red bars are frames that took too long. A few are harmless, but regular red spikes mean stutter, which you will also feel in games.
Why your monitor might show 60 Hz
- The operating system setting. Windows often defaults to 60 Hz. Open Display settings, then Advanced display, and choose the highest rate. On macOS, check the refresh rate option in Displays.
- The cable. Older HDMI cables and versions may not carry high refresh at high resolution. DisplayPort is usually the safest choice for gaming monitors.
- The port. On desktops, plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard video output.
- Battery saving. Laptops and phones often drop to 60 Hz on battery or use variable rates that settle low when nothing moves.
- Browser limits. Some browsers cap animation rates in power saving modes or background tabs.
What the motion strip shows
The moving shape travels at a constant speed in pixels per second. At higher refresh rates it moves in smaller steps between frames, so it looks smoother and the eyes on it stay clearer. Faster speeds exaggerate the difference. If you can, compare the strip on two displays side by side. Blur that remains even at a high refresh rate comes from the panel’s pixel response time rather than the refresh rate itself.
Refresh rate versus frame rate
Refresh rate is how often the display updates. Frame rate is how many new images your graphics card produces. For the smoothest result the game’s frame rate should match or exceed the refresh rate, which adaptive sync technologies help with.
Tips for accurate results
- Close heavy background apps and video players while testing.
- Run the test on the monitor you want to measure. Dragging the window between screens restarts the measurement.
- Test on mains power when checking a laptop.
- Recheck after driver updates, which sometimes reset display settings.
- With several monitors connected, test each one separately, since each can run at its own refresh rate and one slow screen can affect how the browser paces frames.
A high refresh rate pays off most when the rest of the chain is fast too. Confirm your mouse reports quickly enough with the mouse polling rate test, then feel the difference in the reaction time test and the aim trainer. For image quality rather than speed, the monitor test and dead pixel test cover the panel itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my monitor refresh rate?
Open the refresh rate test and wait a few seconds. It measures how often your browser receives new frames from the display and shows the nearest standard value.
Why does the test show 60 Hz on my 144 Hz monitor?
The refresh rate is usually still set to 60 Hz in your operating system, or the cable or port cannot carry the higher rate. Change it in display settings and use DisplayPort where possible.
Is the measured rate exact?
It is very close. System scheduling adds tiny variation, so a 144 Hz display may measure 143.9 Hz. The snapped value shows the setting it most likely represents.
What is a dropped frame?
A frame interval that took much longer than normal, meaning the display showed the same image for more than one refresh. Occasional drops are normal. Frequent ones cause visible stutter.
Does refresh rate reduce input lag?
Yes. Higher refresh rates show new information sooner. Going from 60 to 144 Hz cuts the time between frames from 16.7 to 6.9 milliseconds.
Why is my 144 Hz monitor showing 60 Hz?
The refresh rate is often set to 60 Hz by default. Change it in your display settings and use a cable that supports the higher rate.
Does the browser limit my refresh rate?
Browsers usually render at your display's refresh rate. Battery saver modes can cap it on laptops.
What is frame time?
The time between frames. At 144 Hz each frame lasts about 6.9 milliseconds.
Do I need a special cable for high refresh rates?
Often yes. DisplayPort or a newer HDMI version is needed for high refresh rates at high resolutions.
Related tools
Smooth frames deserve a mouse that keeps pace
Your screen now refreshes fast. Make sure your mouse reports just as often, so every frame shows fresh movement.