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SPCXTools

Refresh Rate Test

Measure your display's real refresh rate in Hz, with frame time, jitter and a live smoothness graph.

Runs locally — files never leave your device

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How to use Refresh Rate Test

  1. 1Open this page on the screen you want to test and keep the browser window on that screen.
  2. 2Wait a few seconds — the big number shows the detected refresh rate in Hz.
  3. 3Watch the moving ball and the frame-time graph. A flat graph means smooth, consistent frames.
  4. 4If the result is lower than expected, check your display settings and cable, then reload the page.

Measure your screen's refresh rate

The refresh rate is how many times per second a display draws a new image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen updates 60 times per second; gaming monitors and modern phones reach 120, 144, 240 Hz or more, which makes scrolling and motion look much smoother. But a high-refresh display only helps if it is actually running at its full rate. This refresh rate test measures what your browser really receives, right now.

What the test shows

  • Detected refresh rate, rounded to the nearest standard value such as 60, 75, 120, 144, 165 or 240 Hz.
  • Measured rate with decimals — many "60 Hz" displays actually run at 59.94 Hz.
  • Average frame time in milliseconds.
  • Jitter, the variation between frames, as a measure of smoothness.
  • A moving ball and frame-time graph so you can see stutter, not just read about it.

Common refresh rates

Refresh rate Frame time Typical devices
60 Hz 16.7 ms Standard monitors, laptops, older phones
75 Hz 13.3 ms Budget office monitors
90–120 Hz 11.1–8.3 ms Modern phones, tablets, premium laptops, TVs
144–165 Hz 6.9–6.1 ms Gaming monitors and laptops
240 Hz and up 4.2 ms or less Competitive esports monitors

Getting the full refresh rate

Set it in the operating system. On Windows, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and choose the highest refresh rate. On macOS, open System Settings → Displays and pick the refresh rate for that screen.

Use the right cable and port. DisplayPort supports high refresh rates at high resolutions. HDMI 1.4 is limited to 60 Hz at 1440p or 4K; use HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 for more. On laptops, the dedicated graphics card's port may be required.

Check the monitor's own menu. Some monitors ship with overclocking or high refresh modes disabled.

Plug in your laptop. Battery-saving modes often drop the panel to 60 Hz.

Keep the browser on the right screen. With multiple monitors, the browser follows the refresh rate of the display its window is on.

Check other display properties with Screen Resolution, or inspect the panel for faults with the Dead Pixel Test.

Frequently asked questions

How does this refresh rate test work?
Browsers draw animation frames in sync with the display. The test uses requestAnimationFrame to time hundreds of frames, takes the median interval and converts it to frames per second. For example, a 6.94 ms interval corresponds to 144 Hz.
Why does it show 60 Hz on my 144 Hz monitor?
The most common reasons are: the refresh rate is set to 60 Hz in your operating system's display settings; the cable or port doesn't support high refresh rates (use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0/2.1 instead of older HDMI); the browser window is on a different monitor; or the laptop is in battery-saving mode, which can limit the refresh rate.
Why does the number jump around?
Background tasks, other tabs, and power-saving features can delay some frames. The tool uses the median frame time to ignore occasional hiccups, but with variable refresh rate (G-Sync, FreeSync, ProMotion) the display may genuinely change its rate, especially when there is little motion.
What is frame time and jitter?
Frame time is the average time between frames — about 16.7 ms at 60 Hz and 4.2 ms at 240 Hz. Jitter is how much frame times vary. Low jitter means motion looks smooth; high jitter appears as stutter.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Many recent phones have 90 Hz or 120 Hz screens but drop to 60 Hz in some apps or in low-power mode. Run the test to see what your browser actually gets.
Why does the result reset when I switch tabs?
Browsers pause animation in background tabs to save power, so the measurement restarts when you return.

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