FPS and Frame Time Calculator

Frame rate, FPS

Monitor refresh rate, Hz

Target frame rate

Result

Frame time, ms6.944
Frame time at the target, ms4.167
Gain, ms a frame2.778
Monitor interval, ms6.944
What happens to extra framesthe monitor shows every frame
Smoothnesssmooth even for fast shooters

Milliseconds are more honest than frames

Converts a frame rate into milliseconds per frame and shows what moving to a higher rate actually buys.

Frame rate misleads because the scale is not linear. The gap between 30 and 60 frames is 16.7 milliseconds a frame; between 120 and 150 it is 1.7. The same gain in frames buys wildly different gains in responsiveness.

Hence the rule: the higher your frame rate already is, the less further growth is worth. Going from 60 to 120 feels like a revelation; going from 240 to 360 feels like measurement error.

What this calculator shows

The time of a single frame in milliseconds
How many milliseconds a target frame rate would save
What happens to frames beyond the monitor's refresh rate

What to keep in mind

The figure covers frame time only. Total input latency also includes mouse polling, engine processing and panel response.
Frames beyond the refresh rate are not displayed, but they still shave latency: the screen picks up a fresher one of those already drawn.

FAQs

How many milliseconds is a frame at 144 FPS?

6.94. At 60 frames it is 16.67 ms and at 240 it is 4.17 ms.

Is FPS above the refresh rate worth anything?

A little. The extra frames are not shown, but the screen picks up a fresher one among those drawn, which trims latency. That is why professionals run frame rates far above their refresh rate.

Average FPS or the dips?

The dips. A steady 90 feels better than a swing between 60 and 200: uneven frame time is more visible than the average.

Why does 30 frames look smooth in film?

Because motion blur is captured naturally. A game draws every frame sharp, and the eye notices steps that film never has.

Worked example

From 144 to 240

Input: 144 FPS on a 144 Hz monitor, target 240

Output: 6.94 ms a frame; at the target 4.17 ms — a 2.78 ms gain

Note: Under three milliseconds. For comparison, going from 60 to 144 saves 9.7 milliseconds — almost four times as much for half the gain in frames.

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FPS and Frame Time Calculator

Result

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