Ping Test
Ping and jitter decide how responsive your connection feels. This page explains what your ping results mean and how to lower latency for smoother gaming and better video calls.
For full diagnostics (download, upload, packet loss, and latency under load), see the Check Internet Speed Test.
How to run an accurate ping test
Follow these steps to get reliable latency and jitter measurements:
- Prefer Ethernet. If using Wi‑Fi, connect to 5 GHz/6 GHz and stay close to the router.
- Close background apps (cloud backup, game updates, streaming, large downloads).
- Disable VPN or proxy during the test (they add overhead and change routing).
- Pause OS/app updates on all devices in your network.
- Run multiple tests at busy and off‑peak times, then compare the results.
Tip: To check bufferbloat, observe ping while you’re downloading or uploading. If latency spikes heavily under load, enable SQM/QoS on your router.
Reading your results
- Ping (ms): Round‑trip time. Lower is better and feels more responsive.
- Jitter (ms): Variation of latency. Lower jitter gives smoother voice/video and gameplay.
- Packet loss (%): Ideally ~0%. Even small loss can cause stutter or rubber‑banding.
Latency quality guide
| Quality | Ping (ms) | Jitter (ms) | Typical experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 20 | < 5 | Competitive gaming, pristine calls |
| Good | 20–50 | 5–10 | Casual gaming, HD calls |
| Playable | 50–80 | 10–20 | Noticeable delay/glitches |
| Problematic | > 80 | > 20 | Lag, dropouts, choppy audio/video |
Note: Latency depends on distance to the server and the number of network “hops” in between. Closer servers usually mean lower ping.
Common causes of high ping and jitter
- Shared network is busy (uploads, cloud sync, streaming, torrents).
- Wi‑Fi interference, weak signal (low RSSI), or crowded channels.
- Router bufferbloat (large queues) during uploads/downloads.
- Long physical distance to the server or inefficient routing.
- Old router/firmware or device drivers.
- VPN/proxy encryption overhead.
Reduce ping and jitter: quick fixes
- Use Ethernet where possible. On Wi‑Fi, choose 5 GHz/6 GHz and stand near the router.
- Turn on SQM/QoS in router settings to control bufferbloat (set bandwidth to ~85–95% of your real max).
- Stop background traffic (cloud backup, large downloads, live streams).
- Pick a closer game/server region and avoid peak congestion times.
- Update router firmware and device network drivers.
- Optimize Wi‑Fi: correct channel (1/6/11 on 2.4 GHz), separate SSIDs for 2.4/5/6 GHz, and avoid interference sources.
For deeper Wi‑Fi optimization, see the Wi‑Fi Speed Test.
How ping tests work (simplified)
- Idle latency: Repeatedly measure round‑trip time to a nearby server using lightweight requests.
- Jitter: Compute the variation (e.g., standard deviation) across those latency samples.
- Under‑load latency (optional): Measure ping while downloading/uploading to detect bufferbloat.
- Packet loss: Track missing responses or timeouts.
Our methodology prioritizes consistency and real‑world behavior. Learn more in Blog.
FAQs
Why is my ping high only when I upload?
Uploads can saturate your upstream and cause large queues (bufferbloat). Enable SQM/QoS and limit upload bandwidth to stabilize latency.
Is Wi‑Fi always worse than Ethernet?
Ethernet is almost always lower latency and jitter. High‑quality Wi‑Fi can be close, but is sensitive to interference and distance.
Can a VPN lower ping?
Rarely. VPNs usually add overhead and increase ping. In some cases, different routing may help, but it’s not reliable.
Why does ping vary during the day?
Network congestion changes at peak times. Compare off‑peak results; if the difference is large, your ISP or local node may be saturated.