How to read the result
The big number is the refresh rate your display is running at right now, measured from how often the browser is allowed to draw a new frame. Next to it:
- Status — Measuring while it collects data, Ready once the reading is stable, and Unstable if frames are arriving irregularly (another app is busy, the window moved between monitors, or VRR is changing the rate).
- Nearest standard rate — measured values like 59.94 or 143.98 Hz are normal; this shows which standard mode they correspond to.
- FPS — frames actually drawn in the last second. It should match the refresh rate. If it is lower, your browser or computer can’t keep up.
- Frame time — milliseconds between refreshes (1000 ÷ Hz). The graph shows each recent frame; bars that jump above the line are hitches.
- Dropped — refreshes where the browser failed to deliver a new frame. A few during page load are normal; a steadily climbing count is not.
Common refresh rates
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Typical displays |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Office monitors, most laptops, older phones, TVs |
| 75 Hz | 13.3 ms | Budget monitors |
| 90 Hz | 11.1 ms | Mid-range Android phones |
| 120 Hz | 8.3 ms | iPhone Pro, iPad Pro, flagship phones, gaming TVs, MacBook Pro (ProMotion) |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms | Entry-level gaming monitors and laptops |
| 165 Hz | 6.1 ms | Gaming monitors and laptops |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms | Competitive gaming monitors, OLED monitors |
| 360–540 Hz | 2.8–1.9 ms | Esports monitors |
Getting 60 Hz on a high refresh rate monitor? Fix it
If the test shows a lower number than your monitor is rated for, work through this list. The first two fix it in most cases.
1. Set the refresh rate in your operating system
- Windows 11: Settings → System → Display → select the monitor → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate.
- Windows 10: Settings → System → Display → Advanced display settings → Display adapter properties → Monitor tab.
- macOS: System Settings → Displays → Refresh rate (on MacBook Pro, choose ProMotion).
- Graphics driver: NVIDIA Control Panel → Change resolution → Refresh rate; AMD Software → Display.
If the higher rate is missing from the list, the cable, port or resolution can’t carry it.
2. Check the cable and port
- Use DisplayPort where possible. On HDMI, you need HDMI 2.0 for 1440p at 144 Hz and HDMI 2.1 for 4K above 60 Hz.
- On a desktop PC, plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard’s video output.
- Cheap adapters, docks and KVM switches often limit the refresh rate.
3. Check browser and power settings
- Chrome / Edge: Energy Saver (Chrome) and Efficiency mode (Edge) can reduce frame rates — turn them off, and plug your laptop in.
- Safari: caps web pages at 60 fps by default. On a Mac, turn off Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps under Develop → Feature Flags (enable the Develop menu in Safari Settings → Advanced first).
- Hardware acceleration must be on in the browser settings.
- Remote desktop, screen sharing and virtual machines usually limit the rate.
4. Multiple monitors
The test measures the monitor the browser window is on. Drag the window to the other screen and the test restarts automatically for that display.
Motion comparison and frame skipping
Motion shows the same shape moving at your full refresh rate, at 60 fps and at 30 fps, all at the same speed. On a 120 Hz+ display the top row looks noticeably smoother and less blurry. On a 60 Hz display the top two rows look identical — a quick sanity check that a high refresh rate is really active.
Frame skipping is for checking overclocked or unfamiliar monitors. One square lights up on each refresh. Take a photo with a shutter speed of 1/10 second or longer (most phone cameras have a Pro or manual mode). In the photo, the lit squares should form an unbroken run. A dark gap means the monitor skipped a frame even though it reports the higher rate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my monitor’s refresh rate?
Just open this page — the measurement starts automatically. Keep the tab in front and don’t move the mouse for a few seconds; the reading settles within about 2 seconds and keeps getting more precise the longer it runs. The big number is your current refresh rate in hertz (Hz).
Why does the test show 60 Hz on my 144 Hz (or 165 / 240 Hz) monitor?
Almost always because the display is still set to 60 Hz. Check, in this order:
- Windows: Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate.
- Mac: System Settings → Displays → Refresh rate.
- The cable and port: use DisplayPort or the HDMI version your monitor needs (HDMI 1.4 tops out at 60 Hz at 1440p). Avoid adapters.
- Browser power saving: Chrome and Edge Energy Saver, and laptops on battery, can cap animations at 30 or 60 fps.
- Safari: limits pages to 60 fps by default, even on ProMotion and 120 Hz+ displays.
Is refresh rate the same as FPS?
No. Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the display redraws. Frame rate (FPS) is how many new images per second the computer produces. You only see as many frames as the display refreshes: 200 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor still shows 60 distinct images a second. In a browser the two match, because browsers draw exactly once per refresh.
Why is the result 59.94 Hz or 143.9 Hz instead of a round number?
Real displays rarely run at exactly their advertised rate. 59.94 Hz is a standard broadcast timing, and many monitors run a few hundredths of a hertz above or below their nominal rate. That is normal. We show the measured value and the nearest standard rate next to it.
How accurate is this refresh rate test?
After a few seconds it is typically accurate to within ±0.01 Hz. Instead of counting frames per second, it fits a line through every frame timestamp to find the exact interval between refreshes, so skipped frames and timer rounding do not throw it off. If the status shows “Unstable”, close other heavy tabs or apps and wait — the test restarts itself.
Does this work with G-Sync, FreeSync or VRR?
With variable refresh rate on, most browsers still render at the display’s maximum rate in windowed mode, so the test usually reports the maximum. If VRR is active in fullscreen, the browser drives the display at its own pace and you may see “Unstable”. That is VRR working as designed, not a fault.
Can I test the refresh rate of a phone or iPad?
Yes. Open this page on the device. Android phones with 90 Hz or 120 Hz screens show their current rate, though adaptive refresh may drop it when the screen is idle — touch the screen to keep it at full speed. iPhone and iPad Safari limit web pages to 60 Hz unless you turn off “Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps” under Settings → Apps → Safari → Advanced → Feature Flags.
What is frame skipping?
Some monitors, especially when overclocked, accept a high refresh rate but silently drop frames, so you get the smoothness of a lower rate. The Frame skipping mode lights one square per refresh; photograph it with a slow shutter (1/10 s or longer) and every square in the run should be lit. A gap means a skipped frame.
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