Free online monitor refresh rate test and Hz checker. Check whether your screen is actually running at 60Hz, 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz or higher with live Hz, average, 1% low, frame time, jitter and stability measurements. Includes a timed benchmark and fullscreen screen-tearing test. No download or sign-up.
Capture a fixed-duration sample for a more reliable average. Longer runs iron out momentary background hitches.
Frame-time consistency
Each bar is how often frames landed in that timing bucket. A single tall spike means rock-steady pacing; spread-out bars mean stutter or an unstable variable refresh rate.
0 mstarget 16.67 ms40 ms
Motion & screen-tearing test
The top block moves at your native refresh rate; the others simulate lower frame rates. On a high-Hz display the slow rows visibly stutter while the native row stays smooth. Open fullscreen and watch for horizontal tearing to check G-Sync / FreeSync.
Find out the true refresh rate your monitor or screen is running at, from 60Hz and 75Hz to 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz, 300Hz, 360Hz or higher, directly from your browser. This free refresh rate test measures the real interval between frames your display paints and reports live Hz, average, 1% low, frame time, jitter and a stability score. Use it to check your monitor's refresh rate, verify whether a 144Hz or 240Hz display is actually running at its rated speed, diagnose a screen stuck at 60Hz, and test screen tearing or variable refresh behavior.
This free online refresh rate test measures how frequently your display actually paints frames in the browser. It works as a monitor Hz test, screen refresh rate checker and display refresh rate tester, helping you confirm whether a 60Hz, 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz, 300Hz or 360Hz display is operating at the rate you expect. The measurement runs directly in your browser with no software download or sign-up required. Let the reading settle for a few seconds for a more reliable result.
Features
Live telemetry dashboard: real-time refresh rate plus average, peak, dip, frame time (ms), jitter, dropped frames and a 1% low reading measured from actual frame-paint deltas.
Detected-rate verdict: identifies the measured refresh rate and compares it with common display rates such as 60Hz, 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz and 360Hz.
Live Hz graph: a rolling sparkline of measured refresh timing so you can spot dips, throttling and variable-refresh behavior as it happens.
Frame-time consistency histogram: shows how tightly frames are paced and helps expose stutter or unstable VRR.
Timed benchmark: capture a 3s, 10s or 30s sample for a more stable average with one-click copyable results.
Fullscreen motion and screen-tearing test: an adjustable-speed sweeping animation for checking G-Sync, FreeSync, V-Sync and visible tearing.
Stability score: a 0-100% smoothness measurement derived from frame-time consistency.
100% client-side: measurements are processed directly in your browser with nothing uploaded and no sign-up.
How to use Monitor Refresh Rate Test
1
Close other heavy apps
Close games, video calls, large downloads and other demanding applications so background activity is less likely to interfere with the measurement.
2
Check your selected refresh rate
Before starting, check Windows, macOS or your device settings and select the refresh rate you want to verify, such as 120Hz, 144Hz or 240Hz.
3
Start the refresh rate test
The tool immediately begins measuring the interval between painted frames and displays your live refresh rate in Hz.
4
Let the reading settle
Wait several seconds for the measurement to stabilize. The running average is more useful than the first few frames.
5
Run a timed benchmark
Use the 3-second, 10-second or 30-second benchmark when you want a more stable measurement and additional frame-time statistics.
6
Compare the result with your monitor rating
If a 144Hz or 240Hz display measures around 60Hz or another unexpected value, check your OS setting, cable, port, GPU connection and monitor configuration before testing again.
Common use cases
Checking what refresh rate your monitor or screen is currently running at
Confirming a new 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz or 240Hz gaming monitor works at its rated refresh rate
Diagnosing why a high-refresh monitor is stuck at 60Hz
Checking whether a display is actually running at 60Hz, 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz or higher
Testing a monitor after changing Windows or macOS display settings
Checking whether G-Sync, FreeSync or VRR is affecting frame timing
Comparing two monitors or testing the same display before and after a settings change
Checking a laptop or phone screen's browser-visible refresh rate
Investigating screen stutter, inconsistent frame pacing or unstable refresh behavior
Detailed guide
How to check your monitor or screen refresh rate
The easiest way to find your current screen refresh rate is to run the test above and let the live measurement stabilize. The result shows the refresh rate your browser is actually receiving from the display, such as approximately 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz or 240Hz. You can also check the configured refresh rate in your operating system. On Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display to see the selected refresh rate. On macOS, open System Settings > Displays and check the available Refresh Rate options. Comparing the operating-system setting with the browser measurement is useful when you want to know whether your monitor is really running at the rate you selected.
What your refresh rate test result means
Once the reading has settled, a correctly configured display normally measures within about 1Hz of its rated refresh rate. Many monitors actually run at a fractional rate such as 59.94Hz or 143.9Hz, so a result that is a fraction below the label is normal. What matters is which common rate the result lands closest to. If the result snaps to a clearly lower standard rate, the display is being driven at that lower mode, and the last column tells you where to look first.
Rated refresh rate
Expected reading
Frame time
If it reads lower, check
60Hz
59–61Hz
16.67 ms
Reading near 30Hz: browser energy saver or battery saver is throttling animations
75Hz
74–76Hz
13.33 ms
Reading near 60Hz: 75Hz not selected in display settings
120Hz
119–121Hz
8.33 ms
Reading near 60Hz: OS set to 60Hz, laptop on battery or dynamic refresh rate idling
144Hz
143–145Hz
6.94 ms
Reading near 60Hz: OS setting or cable; near 120Hz: 120Hz selected or cable bandwidth at 1440p/4K
165Hz
164–166Hz
6.06 ms
Reading near 144Hz: 165Hz mode or monitor overclock option not enabled in the on-screen menu
240Hz
238–241Hz
4.17 ms
Reading near 144Hz: HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 bandwidth limit, or wrong port on the monitor
360Hz
355–361Hz
2.78 ms
Reading near 240Hz: 360Hz needs DisplayPort 1.4 or newer; check cable and selected mode
Why is my monitor showing 60Hz instead of 120Hz, 144Hz or 240Hz?
A high-refresh monitor falls back to 60Hz for a small number of reasons, and it is worth checking them in order. First, the operating system: Windows often leaves a new monitor at 60Hz until you manually select a higher rate under Advanced display. Second, the cable and port: an older HDMI or DisplayPort version cannot carry high refresh rates at 1440p or 4K, so the faster modes simply do not appear. Third, the GPU connection: on a desktop with a dedicated graphics card, the monitor must be plugged into the graphics card rather than the motherboard video output. Fourth, the monitor itself: some displays only unlock their top refresh rate after enabling an overclock or high-refresh option in the on-screen menu. Finally, power and browser settings on laptops can hold the reading at 60Hz even when the panel supports more. The sections below cover each cause.
Cable and port limits: maximum refresh rate by connection
The connection between your GPU and monitor sets a hard ceiling on the refresh rate available at each resolution. If the mode you want is missing from your display settings, or this test measures a lower rate than your monitor's rating, compare your cable and port against the table below. Both ends matter: the port on the graphics card, the port on the monitor and the cable must all support the same version. The values are typical maximums for standard 8-bit color without compression; monitors that support Display Stream Compression (DSC) can go higher, and exact limits vary with each monitor's timings. USB-C and Thunderbolt display outputs carry a DisplayPort signal, so they follow the DisplayPort version the laptop exposes, while some USB-C hubs and adapters cut the available bandwidth.
Connection
1080p
1440p
4K
HDMI 1.4
120Hz (144Hz on some monitors)
60–75Hz
30Hz
HDMI 2.0
240Hz
144Hz
60Hz
HDMI 2.1
240Hz+
240Hz
120–144Hz
DisplayPort 1.2
240Hz
144–165Hz
60Hz
DisplayPort 1.4
360Hz
240Hz
120Hz (144Hz with DSC)
DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR)
500Hz+
360–480Hz
240Hz
Dual-link DVI
144Hz
60Hz
Not supported
Single-link DVI / VGA
60Hz
Usually unavailable
Not supported
How to check and change your refresh rate in Windows and macOS
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and use 'Choose a refresh rate' to select the highest rate supported by your monitor. Windows 10 provides the same information through Advanced display settings and the display adapter properties. On macOS, open System Settings > Displays and select the available Refresh Rate option. Your GPU driver can override these choices: check the resolution and refresh rate in the NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software or Intel Graphics Command Center, and make sure a custom resolution or a lower 'preferred refresh rate' is not forcing 60Hz. Also open the monitor's own on-screen menu, because some displays hide their highest refresh rate behind an overclock or game-mode setting. If the rate you want is still not listed, check the cable and port table above, then run this refresh rate test again to verify the result.
Laptops: battery saver, power modes and dynamic refresh rate
Laptops are the most common source of a surprisingly low reading. Many laptops drop the panel to 60Hz on battery to save power, so plug in the charger before testing a 120Hz, 144Hz or 165Hz laptop screen. Windows 11 also offers Dynamic refresh rate (shown as a 'Dynamic' option next to the refresh rate), which lets the panel idle at 60Hz and only step up during scrolling, inking or other motion. Because this test runs a continuous animation it usually triggers the higher rate, but if the reading jumps between two values that is the dynamic mode switching. Browser energy-saving modes, such as the Energy Saver option in Chrome, can also reduce animation frame rates while the laptop is unplugged. For a clean measurement, plug in, select the Best performance power mode, and set a fixed high refresh rate.
Browser limits that can cap the refresh rate reading
A browser refresh rate test measures what the browser is allowed to paint, so browser settings can hold the result below what the display is really doing. The most common cases are listed below. If you suspect the browser rather than the monitor, try a second browser: if one reads 144Hz and another reads 60Hz, the display is fine and the limit is inside the slower browser.
Situation
What you may see
What to do
Hardware acceleration turned off (Chrome, Edge)
Reading stuck near 60Hz
Enable 'Use graphics acceleration when available' and restart the browser
Energy or battery saver mode
Reading near 30Hz or 60Hz
Turn off the saver mode or plug in the charger
Multiple monitors with different refresh rates
The faster screen reads the slower screen's rate
Move the window to the display you want and reload, or test with only that display connected
Safari on ProMotion Macs, iPhones or iPads
Reading capped near 60Hz
Safari can limit page animations to about 60fps by default; check Safari's feature flags and Low Power Mode
Firefox with a custom frame-rate setting
Reading fixed at an unusual value
Reset the layout.frame_rate preference in about:config to its default
Tab in the background or window minimized
Reading drops or pauses
Keep the test tab visible and in focus while measuring
How to test if your monitor is really running at 144Hz
To test a 144Hz monitor, select 144Hz in your operating system first, then run this refresh rate test and allow the live reading to settle. A correctly configured 144Hz display should measure close to 144Hz rather than 60Hz. The timed 10-second or 30-second benchmark provides a more stable sample than the initial live reading. If your 144Hz monitor still measures around 60Hz, check the Windows or macOS refresh-rate setting, cable and port, GPU connection and monitor configuration. This is useful when buying a new gaming monitor, changing a display cable, upgrading a graphics card or troubleshooting why 144Hz is not working.
How to test a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor
A 240Hz monitor should normally produce a refresh-rate measurement close to 240Hz when the operating system and display are configured correctly. Select 240Hz in your display settings before running the test, then use the 10-second or 30-second benchmark for a more stable measurement. At these speeds each frame lasts only 4.17ms at 240Hz and 2.78ms at 360Hz, so background load shows up more clearly as jitter; close other applications for the cleanest result. If a 240Hz monitor reports approximately 60Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, check whether the selected resolution, cable, port, GPU output or monitor settings support the desired combination; 240Hz at 1440p needs DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1, and 360Hz needs DisplayPort 1.4 or newer. The same approach works for 200Hz, 300Hz, 480Hz and other high-refresh displays.
Phone and tablet refresh rate test: iPhone, iPad and Android
You can open this test in a mobile browser to check the refresh rate a phone or tablet exposes to web pages. On iPhone and iPad models with ProMotion, the display can run at up to 120Hz, but Low Power Mode limits it to 60Hz and Safari may cap page animations at about 60fps by default, so a 60Hz reading on an iPhone does not always mean the screen is limited to 60Hz. On Android, the setting is usually called Smooth display, Motion smoothness or Screen refresh rate; adaptive modes lower the rate when the screen is idle, and battery saver often forces 60Hz. Turn off power-saving modes, choose the high or fixed refresh option, keep the screen moving, and then read the settled result.
Detect screen tearing and test G-Sync / FreeSync
The fullscreen motion test helps you identify screen tearing, the horizontal split that can appear when the GPU and display are not synchronized. Move the sweeping animation at different speeds and watch the moving edge carefully. With G-Sync, FreeSync or another variable refresh rate system configured correctly, motion should remain synchronized as the display adapts to changing frame delivery. If you see a visible horizontal split, check adaptive-sync settings in your monitor's on-screen menu and GPU control panel. V-Sync can also affect how GPU frames are synchronized with the display.
60Hz vs 75Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz vs 165Hz vs 240Hz vs 360Hz
Refresh rate determines how frequently a display can update its image. The higher the refresh rate, the shorter the time available for each refresh, which is why motion and scrolling look smoother on faster displays. The visible benefit becomes smaller as the refresh rate increases: going from 60Hz to 144Hz cuts each frame by almost 10ms, while going from 240Hz to 360Hz saves under 1.4ms.
Refresh rate
Frame time
Typical use
60Hz
16.67 ms
Office monitors, most TVs and budget laptops
75Hz
13.33 ms
Budget monitors with a small smoothness boost
100Hz / 120Hz
10 ms / 8.33 ms
Modern laptops, phones, tablets and consoles
144Hz / 165Hz
6.94 ms / 6.06 ms
Mainstream gaming monitors
240Hz
4.17 ms
Competitive and esports gaming
360Hz
2.78 ms
Professional esports displays
Refresh rate vs FPS: what's the difference?
Refresh rate, measured in Hz, is how many times the display can refresh the image per second. FPS is how many frames the GPU or game renders per second. They are related but not the same measurement. A 144Hz monitor receiving only 60 FPS cannot display 144 unique game frames per second, while a game rendering 200 FPS on a 60Hz display cannot show all 200 refreshes on screen. This tool measures the display side: your actual screen refresh rate. Use a separate FPS benchmark or in-game counter when you need to measure GPU rendering performance.
Reading the numbers: frame time, jitter, 1% low and consistency
A single average refresh-rate number can hide variations between individual frames. Frame time shows how long each measured frame takes in milliseconds: approximately 16.67ms at 60Hz, 8.33ms at 120Hz, 6.94ms at 144Hz and 4.17ms at 240Hz. Jitter measures variation in frame timing, so lower jitter generally means more consistent pacing. The 1% low represents the refresh rate observed during the slowest 1% of measured frames and can reveal occasional dips that an average value hides. The stability score summarizes frame-time consistency into a simple 0-100% measurement. The frame-time histogram shows the same thing visually: on a stable fixed-refresh display, measurements cluster tightly around the expected frame time, while a wider spread points to browser activity, system load or variable refresh behavior. Running the timed benchmark for 10 or 30 seconds collects enough samples to make occasional spikes easy to spot when a monitor feels uneven or stuttery even though its average looks correct.
Can a browser accurately test monitor refresh rate?
Yes, for the question most people are asking: which refresh rate is my display running at right now. Browsers schedule animation frames in step with the display's refresh, so timing the interval between painted frames reveals the active refresh rate. This tool uses high-resolution animation timing and averages many frames, which is why the settled result lands close to the true rate. What a browser test cannot do is read hardware settings directly: it does not see the G-Sync or FreeSync status, the cable version or the panel's maximum supported rate, and browser power or energy settings can limit what it measures (see the browser limits table above). Treat the first few frames as warm-up, avoid heavy background workloads, and use the 10-second or 30-second benchmark when you want the most stable sample.
Frequently asked questions
What is my refresh rate and how do I check it online?
Your refresh rate is the number of times your display refreshes its image each second, measured in Hz. Open this page and the test automatically measures the refresh timing your browser receives; let it settle for a few seconds to see whether your screen runs at about 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz or another rate. To compare with the configured value, check Windows under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display or macOS under System Settings > Displays.
I have a 144Hz monitor but it shows 60Hz. Why?
The usual causes, in order, are: the operating system is still set to 60Hz; the cable or port cannot carry 144Hz at your resolution (for example HDMI 1.4, or HDMI 2.0 at 4K); the monitor is plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card; or the monitor's on-screen menu has the high-refresh mode disabled. The same checks apply to a 240Hz monitor stuck at 60Hz. Fix the setting, then run this test again.
Why is 144Hz or 240Hz not showing as an option?
Windows and macOS only list refresh rates the whole connection can carry at the current resolution. If a rate is missing, the cable, the port on the GPU or monitor, or the resolution is limiting it. Use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 for 1440p above 144Hz, connect to the graphics card rather than the motherboard, and check the monitor's on-screen menu for an overclock or high-refresh option.
Which cable do I need for 144Hz or 240Hz?
For 1080p at 144Hz, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2 or dual-link DVI is enough. For 1440p at 144Hz use HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2; for 1440p at 240Hz use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1. For 4K at 120Hz or 144Hz use HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. The ports on the graphics card and monitor must support the same version as the cable.
How do I test if my monitor is really running at 144Hz?
Select 144Hz in your operating system, then run this test and let the live reading settle. A correctly configured 144Hz display should measure close to 144Hz. For a more stable result, use the 10-second or 30-second benchmark.
How do I test a 240Hz monitor?
Select 240Hz in your display settings and run the test. A correctly configured 240Hz display should measure close to 240Hz. If it reports around 60Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, check the selected resolution, cable, port, GPU output and monitor settings.
What reading should I expect from a 60Hz, 144Hz or 240Hz monitor?
After the reading settles, a correctly configured display normally measures within about 1Hz of its rating: around 60Hz for a 60Hz monitor, 143 to 145Hz for 144Hz and 238 to 241Hz for 240Hz. Fractional results such as 59.94Hz or 143.9Hz are normal. A result that lands on a clearly lower standard rate means the display is running in that lower mode.
What is the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz?
A 60Hz display refreshes 60 times per second, once every 16.67ms, while a 144Hz display refreshes 144 times per second, about every 6.94ms. The shorter frame interval generally makes motion and scrolling look smoother and can make games feel more responsive when the GPU delivers enough frames.
Is a 240Hz monitor better than 144Hz?
240Hz allows a shorter refresh interval than 144Hz, approximately 4.17ms versus 6.94ms. The difference can be useful for competitive gaming and fast motion, but it is less dramatic than the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz and depends on the game, GPU and user's sensitivity to motion differences.
What is the difference between refresh rate and FPS? Does this test measure FPS?
Refresh rate is how often the display refreshes its image, in Hz; FPS is how many frames a game or GPU renders per second. This tool measures the display side, your actual screen refresh rate, not game FPS. A 144Hz monitor receiving only 60 FPS cannot show 144 unique frames per second, and 200 FPS on a 60Hz display cannot all appear as separate refreshes. Use an FPS test or in-game counter to measure rendering performance.
Can I test my laptop screen refresh rate?
Yes. The test measures laptop displays as well as external monitors. Plug in the charger first, because many laptops drop to 60Hz on battery, and note that Windows 11 Dynamic refresh rate can switch between 60Hz and the panel's higher rate depending on what is moving on screen.
Can I test my phone's refresh rate?
Yes. Open the test in your mobile browser. Phones may run at 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz or higher, but power-saving modes lower the rate: iPhone Low Power Mode limits ProMotion to 60Hz, Safari may cap page animations near 60fps, and Android battery saver often forces 60Hz. Turn these off for the most representative reading.
How do I change the refresh rate in Windows 11 or macOS?
In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and use 'Choose a refresh rate' to pick 144Hz or the highest rate listed. On macOS, open System Settings > Displays, select the display and choose a Refresh Rate. If the rate you want is missing, check the cable, port, resolution and GPU control panel, then run this test to confirm the change.
Why does my second monitor show the wrong refresh rate?
When monitors with different refresh rates are connected, some browsers pace animations to one display, often the primary one, so a 144Hz screen can read 60Hz if a 60Hz monitor is also attached. Move the browser window fully onto the display you want to test and reload, or temporarily disconnect the other monitor to confirm the result.
What is screen tearing and how do I test for it?
Screen tearing is a visible horizontal split that appears when the GPU and the display are not synchronized, so the screen shows parts of two frames at once. Open the motion and screen-tearing test, switch to fullscreen and watch the moving bar at different speeds; a horizontal offset in the moving image indicates tearing. V-Sync, G-Sync and FreeSync can reduce or eliminate it.
Can this test detect G-Sync, FreeSync or variable refresh rate?
It can show refresh timing that is consistent with variable refresh behavior: with VRR active, the live Hz and frame-time measurements may move instead of staying at one fixed value. It does not read your GPU driver, so it cannot tell whether G-Sync, FreeSync or another VRR implementation is responsible. Use the fullscreen motion test and frame-time graph alongside your GPU control-panel settings.
Can a browser refresh rate test be accurate?
Yes, for identifying the refresh rate your display is currently running at. Browsers pace animation frames to the display, so averaging many frame-paint intervals gives a result close to the true rate. Browser power settings, background activity and multi-monitor setups can affect it, so let the reading stabilize and use the timed benchmark for the most reliable sample.
What do frame time and jitter mean in a refresh rate test?
Frame time is the time between measured display updates: about 16.67ms at 60Hz, 8.33ms at 120Hz, 6.94ms at 144Hz and 4.17ms at 240Hz. Jitter measures how much that frame time varies. Low jitter indicates consistent frame pacing, while high jitter can indicate uneven frame delivery caused by system activity, browser scheduling or changing refresh behavior.
What is the 1% low reading?
The 1% low represents the refresh rate measured during the slowest 1% of sampled frames. It can reveal occasional dips or stutter that an overall average may hide. A 1% low close to the average generally indicates more consistent frame timing.
How do I run the timed refresh rate benchmark?
Choose the 3-second, 10-second or 30-second benchmark. The tool captures a fixed-duration sample and reports the detected refresh rate, average, 1% low, frame time, jitter and stability. Longer tests provide more samples and are useful when you want to reduce the influence of short-lived timing fluctuations.
Why does the refresh rate reading start at 0 and then settle?
The test needs a short sequence of painted frames before it can calculate the interval between them. The first second or two is used to collect enough measurements. Wait for the reading to stabilize or run the timed benchmark if you want a more consistent result.
Does a higher refresh rate reduce eye strain?
Some people find higher refresh rates more comfortable because motion appears smoother and certain displays may produce less noticeable flicker. However, refresh rate is only one factor affecting eye comfort; brightness, viewing distance, ambient lighting, text size and individual sensitivity also matter.
Why does the lower-framerate block look choppy?
A lower frame rate means fewer unique frames are presented during each second. For example, when 30 FPS content is displayed on a 60Hz screen, frames may remain visible for multiple refresh intervals, producing visibly less fluid motion.
Is this refresh rate test free and private?
Yes. The ToolNova refresh rate test is free, needs no account or download, and runs entirely in your browser. It does not upload display frames or store screen captures to calculate the refresh rate.
