60Hz vs 144Hz vs 240Hz: Which Refresh Rate Is Right for You?

Refresh rate (measured in Hertz, Hz) is how many times per second your monitor redraws the image. A higher refresh rate means smoother motion and lower input lag, but the right choice depends on what you actually do with your screen.

Refresh Rate at a Glance

Refresh rate	Best for	Typical panel
60Hz	Office work, web browsing, casual video	Standard IPS/VA
144Hz	Competitive gaming, smooth UIs	Gaming IPS/TN
240Hz	Esports, fast-paced shooters	High-end TN/OLED

60Hz: The Reliable Baseline

A 60Hz display refreshes 60 times per second. For most productivity tasks, streaming, and everyday use, 60Hz is perfectly adequate. You will not benefit from a higher refresh rate if your content never exceeds 60 FPS.

144Hz: The Sweet Spot for Gamers

Stepping up to 144Hz is one of the most noticeable upgrades in PC gaming. Motion becomes visibly smoother, mouse cursor tracking feels instant, and fast-paced games are easier to follow. For most gamers, 144Hz hits the best balance of price and performance.

240Hz: Built for Competition

240Hz panels are aimed at esports professionals and serious competitive players. The jump from 144Hz to 240Hz is subtler than from 60Hz to 144Hz, but it can shave milliseconds off input latency — which matters in titles where every frame counts.

Remember: you only benefit from a higher refresh rate if your system can actually deliver the matching FPS. Use our FPS Test to verify.

Matching FPS and Refresh Rate

To get the most out of any panel, your frame rate should approach the refresh rate. Running a 144Hz monitor at 60 FPS wastes the panel's potential, while pushing 200 FPS on a 60Hz monitor produces frames you will never see.

Choose the refresh rate that matches both your workload and your hardware budget — then keep your FPS in the same range for the best experience.