What refresh rate means
A screen does not show a smooth movie. It shows a series of still pictures and swaps them over and over. Refresh rate is how many times each second the screen swaps in a new picture. It is measured in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz is one refresh per second.
At 60 Hz the screen refreshes 60 times a second, roughly once every 16.7 milliseconds. At 144 Hz it refreshes once every 6.9 milliseconds. A shorter gap between pictures means motion has less time to look jumpy, and fast movement such as scrolling a page or turning in a game looks less blurred.
- 60 Hza refresh every 16.7 ms: the standard for office screens and most TVs
- 144 Hza refresh every 6.9 ms: the common gaming monitor rate
- 240 Hza refresh every 4.2 ms: esports territory
Refresh rate is not frame rate
The two are easy to mix up. Refresh rate belongs to the display. Frame rate, in frames per second (fps), is how many pictures your computer, console or video actually sends. The screen can never show more different pictures per second than its refresh rate, so a game running at 200 fps on a 60 Hz screen still shows 60 images a second.
Refresh rate is the screen's limit. Frame rate is what your device sends. What you see is the lower of the two.
How much does each step change?
Higher is better, but each jump buys less than the one before. The chart shows the time between refreshes, where a shorter bar is smoother.
- 60 Hz 16.7 msbaseline
- 75 Hz 13.3 mssaves 3.3 ms vs 60 Hz
- 120 Hz 8.3 mssaves 8.3 ms vs 60 Hz
- 144 Hz 6.9 mssaves 9.7 ms vs 60 Hz
- 165 Hz 6.1 mssaves 10.6 ms vs 60 Hz
- 240 Hz 4.2 mssaves 12.5 ms vs 60 Hz
- 360 Hz 2.8 mssaves 13.9 ms vs 60 Hz
Frame time is 1000 divided by the refresh rate in Hz. Savings are measured against 60 Hz.
Going from 60 Hz to 120 Hz removes 8.3 ms from every refresh. Doubling again to 240 Hz removes only 4.2 ms more, and going on to 360 Hz removes just 1.4 ms. That is why a 144 Hz screen feels like a big upgrade over 60 Hz and a 360 Hz one feels like a small upgrade over 240 Hz.
Hz and frame time calculator
Type a refresh rate to see how long each refresh lasts, or type a time to see the matching rate.
Does your Hz match your frame rate?
A fast screen only helps if your device feeds it enough frames. The checker below shows what happens when the two numbers differ. Without variable refresh rate, the best case is a frame rate that divides evenly into the refresh rate, such as 72 fps on 144 Hz, because every frame is then held for the same number of refreshes.
Example: 24 fps film on a 60 Hz screen is held for 2 refreshes, then 3, then 2, and so on. On a 120 Hz screen every film frame is held for exactly 5 refreshes.
Measure your screen right now
This measures how often your browser can draw a new frame over about two seconds. It uses the same method as the full Refresh Rate Test, without the frame drop log.
The browser decides when frames can be drawn, so this is an estimate. Your system display settings show the rate it is actually set to, and the Screen Resolution Checker shows your resolution and pixel ratio alongside it.
Which refresh rate do you need?
Pick what you mostly do on the screen. The suggestion is a starting point, not a rule.
| Rate | Where you find it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | Most office monitors, TVs and laptops | Work, video and everyday use |
| 75 Hz | Budget monitors | Slightly smoother scrolling at little cost |
| 90 Hz | Many phones and VR headsets | Smoother touch and scrolling |
| 120 Hz | Phones, tablets, TVs, consoles and laptops | Gaming and movies (divides evenly by 24, 30 and 60) |
| 144 to 165 Hz | Gaming monitors | Fast games at 100 fps or more |
| 240 Hz | Esports monitors | Competitive shooters with a strong graphics card |
| 360 Hz and up | Top end esports monitors | Pro level play, where small gains matter |
Is your screen running at its rated Hz?
One of the most common problems is a high refresh rate monitor quietly running at 60 Hz. The computer defaults to a safe rate until you change it, and a cable, port or driver can hold it back. Work through the list, then confirm with a test.
Test yourself
Five quick questions on what you just read.
Frequently asked questions
Is 144 Hz worth it over 60 Hz?
It depends on what you do. Fast motion in games and quick scrolling look clearly smoother at 144 Hz, and the difference is easy to see side by side. For documents, email and video, 60 Hz is fine. You also need a computer that can send enough frames to use the extra Hz.
Do I need a special cable for a high refresh rate?
Higher resolutions and higher rates need more bandwidth, and older cables or ports can cap you at 60 Hz. Use the cable that came with the monitor, or a recent DisplayPort or HDMI cable, and check the maker's specifications for the rate you get at your resolution.
What is the difference between refresh rate and response time?
Refresh rate is how often the whole picture is redrawn. Response time is how quickly a single pixel changes color, usually measured in milliseconds. Both affect how clear motion looks, but they are different specifications.
What is variable refresh rate, such as G-Sync or FreeSync?
Variable refresh rate lets a compatible monitor change its refresh rate to match the frames your graphics card sends, within a supported range. It reduces tearing and uneven motion when the frame rate is not steady. Both the monitor and the graphics card need to support it, and it usually has to be switched on.
Why does my phone change its refresh rate by itself?
Many phones and laptops use adaptive refresh rates. They run fast while you scroll or play something, then drop to a low rate for still content to save battery. You can usually force a fixed rate in the display settings.
Does a higher refresh rate use more power?
It can. Redrawing the screen more often takes more energy, which is why battery powered devices often lower the rate when unplugged or in a power saving mode.
Can a website measure my real refresh rate?
It can estimate it by timing how often the browser is allowed to draw a new frame. Battery saver, background tabs and some browsers can limit that, so the number may read lower than your real rate. Your operating system display settings show the rate it is actually using.