Network Latency Calculator
Break down gaming latency into network, server and display components.
About Network Latency Calculator
Network ping is only one component: a 64 Hz server adds around 16 milliseconds regardless of connection quality. Jitter matters more than raw ping because the client must buffer for the worst case. Chasing ping below about 20 milliseconds gives little benefit when the server tick rate contributes more than the network does.
Formula
Network Latency
Total = ping + jitter + tick interval + frame time + half a refresh interval
- tick rate
- How often the server simulates and broadcasts state
- jitter
- Variation in ping, which forces buffering and effectively adds latency
Worked example
With the default values below, Network Latency Calculator returns Total Perceived Latency of 58.04. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Round trip pingminimum 0 ms
- 28 ms
- Jitterminimum 0 ms
- 4 ms
- Server tick rateminimum 1 Hz
- 64 Hz
- Client frame rateminimum 1 fps
- 144 fps
- Display refresh rateminimum 1 Hz
- 144 Hz
Results
- Total Perceived Latency
- 58.04 ms
- Network Component
- 32.00 ms
- Server Tick Component
- 15.63 ms
- Client and Display Component
- 10.42 ms
- Largest Component
- Network — a closer server or wired connection would help most
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Network Latency
- 3Total Perceived Latency= 58.04 ms
- 4Network Component= 32.00 ms
- 5Server Tick Component= 15.63 ms
- 6Client and Display Component= 10.42 ms
- 7Largest Component= Network — a closer server or wired connection would help most
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 5 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Network Latency calculated?
Total = ping + jitter + tick interval + frame time + half a refresh interval Network ping is only one component: a 64 Hz server adds around 16 milliseconds regardless of connection quality. Jitter matters more than raw ping because the client must buffer for the worst case.
Why does Network Latency matter?
Chasing ping below about 20 milliseconds gives little benefit when the server tick rate contributes more than the network does.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Round trip ping, Jitter, Server tick rate, Client frame rate, Display refresh rate. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.