FPS (frames per second) is the number of separate images a game, video or animation draws in one second. Higher FPS makes motion look smoother and, in games, usually makes controls feel more responsive.
Why it matters
Film is traditionally shown at 24 FPS, while many games target 30, 60, 120 or more. Below roughly 30 FPS motion looks choppy to most people. Game FPS depends on the GPU, CPU, resolution and graphics settings, and it is often uneven: the average can look fine while brief drops cause visible stutter. Your monitor's refresh rate caps how many of those frames you actually see.
Example
A game renders each frame in 16.7 ms, which is 1000 / 16.7 = about 60 FPS. If a busy scene pushes frame time to 33 ms, the game drops to about 30 FPS. Doubling FPS from 30 to 60 saves 16.7 ms per frame, while going from 120 to 240 saves only about 4.2 ms, so gains shrink at the top end.
Common mistakes
- Judging only the average FPS. Frame-time spikes and 1% lows describe stutter better.
- Expecting 200 FPS to help on a 60 Hz display. Extra frames are discarded or cause tearing.
- Confusing FPS with latency; a game can run at a high frame rate and still feel laggy online.
Related
Get notified when this term updates
Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.