How to Test Your FPS (Frames Per Second)
Quick answer: A browser FPS test shows how many frames per second your display and browser render, which reflects your refresh rate. For actual in-game FPS, use an overlay like Steam, Xbox Game Bar, or your GPU software.
Try it now: open the FPS test.
The browser FPS test
A browser test measures how many frames per second the page renders, which is capped by your monitor's refresh rate. It is a quick way to confirm your display and browser are running smoothly.
Measuring in-game FPS
For real game frame rates, enable the Steam in-game FPS counter, press Windows plus G for the Xbox Game Bar, or use the NVIDIA or AMD overlay while playing.
Low FPS?
If your game FPS is low, lower the graphics settings or resolution and update your GPU driver. To understand how frame rate relates to your screen, see refresh rate vs frame rate.
Confirm
Run the FPS test to check your display, then use an overlay in-game.
What FPS Is and Why It Matters
FPS, or frames per second, is how many individual images your system draws each second. The higher it is, the smoother motion looks and the more responsive a game feels. At low frame rates, motion stutters and the picture feels sluggish; at high frame rates, everything is fluid and your inputs feel immediate. It matters most in games, where both the look and the feel of fast action depend on it, but smooth frame rates also make general scrolling and animation more pleasant. Measure it with the FPS test.
How to Measure FPS
- Use the on-screen FPS test to measure the frame rate your browser and display are achieving for animation.
- In games, turn on the built-in FPS counter many titles include, or use the overlay in Steam, NVIDIA or AMD software to see your in-game frame rate live.
- Compare against your refresh rate — there's no visible benefit to frame rates far above your monitor's refresh rate, since the screen can't show them.
What Counts as Good FPS
- 30 FPS — playable, the baseline for many console and slower-paced games.
- 60 FPS — the smooth standard most people aim for, fluid and responsive.
- 120-144 FPS — very smooth, ideal on a high-refresh monitor for fast games.
- 240 FPS and up — for competitive play where the smallest edge matters.
What you actually need depends on the game and your monitor: there's little point chasing 240 FPS on a 60 Hz screen, since you'd only see 60 of those frames.
What Affects Your Frame Rate
Frame rate is mostly set by your hardware versus the workload you give it. A more powerful graphics card and CPU produce higher frame rates, while higher resolution and heavier graphics settings lower them. To raise FPS, the usual levers are reducing the resolution or graphics quality, closing background apps that compete for resources, and keeping your graphics drivers up to date. Remember the relationship with refresh rate: a high frame rate only translates into smooth visuals if your monitor can display it, which is why FPS and refresh rate work together. The FPS test gives you a quick baseline to start from.
FPS in the Browser vs in Games
It helps to know what each FPS measurement is telling you. An on-screen browser FPS test measures how smoothly the browser can animate, and it's normally capped to your monitor's refresh rate — so on a 60 Hz screen it tops out around 60, and on a 144 Hz screen around 144. That cap is expected behaviour, not a fault, and it's a quick way to confirm your display and browser are running smoothly at the refresh rate. In-game FPS is different: it rises and falls with how hard the game pushes your graphics card, so it varies scene to scene and can sit well below or above your refresh rate. Reading both together gives the full picture — the browser test confirms the display side is healthy, while the in-game counter shows whether your hardware can actually drive the frame rates you want in a given game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test my FPS?
Use the FPS test to measure the frame rate for on-screen animation, or turn on the in-game FPS counter many titles include. Steam, NVIDIA and AMD software also provide an overlay that shows your live in-game frame rate.
What is a good FPS?
60 FPS is the smooth standard most people aim for. 30 FPS is playable for slower games, while 120–144 FPS is very smooth for fast games on a high-refresh monitor. Above that mainly benefits competitive play.
Why is my FPS low?
Usually the graphics workload is too heavy for your hardware — high resolution or graphics settings, an older GPU or CPU, or background apps competing for resources. Lower the resolution or settings, close background apps, and update your graphics drivers.
Is higher FPS always better?
Only up to what your monitor can display. Frame rates far above your refresh rate aren't visible, since the screen can't show them — 240 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor still shows 60. Match your target FPS to your monitor's refresh rate.
Why is my browser FPS capped at 60?
Because browsers sync animation to your monitor's refresh rate, so a 60 Hz display caps the test around 60 and a 144 Hz display around 144. That cap is normal and expected — it's confirming your display is running smoothly, not showing a fault.
Does FPS affect input lag?
Yes. Higher frame rates reduce the delay between your input and what appears on screen, so games feel more responsive. Very low FPS feels sluggish not just visually but in how quickly the game reacts to your mouse and keys.
What's the difference between FPS and Hz?
FPS (frames per second) is how many frames your graphics card produces; Hz (refresh rate) is how many times per second your monitor redraws the screen. The GPU makes the frames, the monitor displays them, and the lower number limits smoothness.
How do I increase my FPS in games?
Lower the resolution and graphics settings, close background apps that compete for resources, update your graphics drivers, and if needed upgrade your GPU. These reduce the workload or boost the hardware producing the frames.
Is 30 FPS bad?
It's playable, especially for slower-paced and console games, and many titles target 30 FPS. It's noticeably less smooth and responsive than 60 FPS, though, which is why 60 is the standard most players aim for on PC.
How many FPS can the human eye see?
There's no single hard limit — people notice smoothness improvements well beyond 60 FPS, which is why 120 and 144 FPS look clearly better. The gains taper off at very high rates, but many can still perceive a difference up to 240 FPS.
Why does my FPS suddenly drop?
Sudden drops usually come from a demanding scene, background tasks stealing resources, or thermal throttling when components get hot and slow down. Power-saving settings can cap performance too. Check temperatures and close background apps if it's frequent.