What is a good ping for gaming?

Whether you’re a computer gamer or play on a console, you know that speed makes or breaks the experience.  

Having a low network latency and a good ping for gaming reduces lag and improves response times, minimizing interruptions. And that’s good news whether you’re building in Minecraft or dropping into a Fortnite battle royale.  

In this post, we’ll cover all you need to know about ping, including what it is, what constitutes a good ping time for gaming, and how you can optimize your network settings to lower your ping.   

What is ping?

In the context of gaming, ping is a measure of the time it takes for information to travel between your computer or console and the game’s server. It’s a key indicator on how quickly your game actions take effect — in other words, how long it takes between you pushing a button and the button’s action happening on your screen. 

 Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms), so the less time, the better. A low ping produces reduced lag, giving you a more streamlined experience with graphics and overall gameplay.  

 It's also important to note the difference between ping and latency. Latency is the total time it takes for information to travel to the server and back, affecting how quickly your actions are reflected in the game. Ping time is a specific measurement that helps assess network latency, which affects how quickly your actions are reflected in the game. Ping is a specific measurement that helps assess network latency. 

What is a good ping for gaming?

In general, a good ping time for gaming is 50 ms or less, but the best speed really depends on the type of game and environment. For example, battles and tournaments require the absolute lowest ping time, as their highly competitive environments require split-second reactions. 

Here’s a case-by-case look at different gaming scenarios and their maximum ping rates: 

• Battles and tournaments: 10 ms or lower 

• First-person shooter (FPS): 20 to 50 ms 

• Racing: 20 to 50 ms 

• Real-time strategy (RTS): Under 150 ms, though aiming for under 100 ms will provide a smoother experience 

• Massively multiplayer online (MMO): 150 to 250 ms, though exceeding 200 ms may lead to significant lag 

 Run an internet speed test if you notice delays and buffering when playing games online. It will show your ping time, along with jitter, download, and upload speeds.  

How to Lower Ping

If your ping is higher than you want it to be, follow these steps to boost your speed.  

Change your network setup.

Getting a good ping for gaming starts with optimizing your whole-home Wi-Fi setup. Here are four adjustments you can make to potentially reduce your ping.  

• Use a wired connection: Switching from Wi-Fi to an ethernet connection can significantly reduce ping time and provide a more stable connection. 

• Prioritize gaming traffic: Enable Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router to prioritize gaming data over other types of internet traffic, ensuring your game gets the bandwidth it needs. Check on your router for online login details, then look for either rules or traffic prioritization on your QoS settings. 

• Use a gaming virtual private network (VPN): A specialized gaming VPN can sometimes provide a more direct route to game servers, potentially lowering ping time.  

• Choose local game servers: Try connecting to the game server physically nearest to you to minimize the distance data must travel. A nearer location generally results in lower latency. 

• Restart your router: Restarting your router can sometimes help resolve network issues. For example, if you’re seeing unusually high pings times, restarting your router could help. 

• Check for throttling: Some internet service providers (ISPs) may throttle or limit internet connection speeds, especially if you exceed data caps. Contact your ISP to explore solutions if you suspect throttling. Note that, at Kinetic, we don’t have data caps or use throttling. 

Optimize software and settings.

When gaming on your computer, take a few extra steps to clear bandwidth and allow room for a better ping. 

• Close background applications: Shut down unnecessary applications like streaming services or downloads. Background apps running on your device can consume bandwidth and increase latency, resulting in a higher ping. 

• Temporarily disable automatic updates: Prevent automatic updates from running during your gaming sessions, as they can use significant bandwidth and processing power. Just be sure to re-enable automatic updates later so your system and apps stay up to date and secure. 

• Adjust network settings: You might be able to adjust your computer’s network settings to turn off bandwidth limitations or power-saving features that might hinder performance. 

If all else fails, try these last-resort options.

Sometimes, physical challenges can impact ping times. Once you’ve addressed any network and software issues, consider these fixes next.   

• Upgrade network equipment: Consider investing in a high-quality router (preferably Gigabit-capable) and using Cat6a or better ethernet cables to ensure optimal speeds and reliability. 

• Play during off-peak hours: Try gaming at times when fewer people are online, as network congestion can lead to higher ping during peak hours. 

• Contact your ISP: If you continue to experience high ping times, reach out to your internet service provider to check for issues on their end or to discuss potential upgrades to your internet plan. 

Don’t lag. Choose Kinetic today.

Gaming is serious business, and your ping speed can directly affect how quickly you react in the online world. Optimize your network and device settings to make sure you have a good ping for gaming.  

Ready to upgrade to internet designed for gamers?  

Kinetic Fiber Internet offers speeds up to 2 gigabits per second (Gbps) to keep you on your game. Make the switch to Kinetic and enjoy reliable bandwidth, lightning-fast download and upload speeds, and smooth, lag-free gameplay. See for yourself why fiber internet is better for gaming.

How do I lower my ping?

A few ways you can try to lower your ping include changing your network setup, optimizing your software and settings, or upgrading to a better internet service provider. Start with the DIY options to determine if the issue is on your end or if your current service simply isn’t fast enough.  

Is 70 ping good for gaming?

If you prefer RTS and MMO games, 70 ms is a good ping speed for gaming. However, you may experience lag when playing racing and first-person shooter (FPS) games.

Is 0 ping possible?

While 0 ping may feel like the ultimate competitive edge in your next game, it’s an unrealistic goal when you’re using a remote server. That’s because the data still has to travel between your network and the server. The only way to even approach 0 ping would be if you were physically close to the game server, such as if your device were directly connected to the game server. 

Why is my ping high but my internet is fast?

Even with fast internet speeds, your ping can be high if you’re physically far away from the game server.  

Will faster internet reduce ping?

Internet speed is one of several factors in your ping rate, so troubleshooting a slow connection could lower your ping. Getting higher bandwidth is another option that can contribute to a more consistent ping rate.

What is a ping reducer and is it beneficial for gaming?

A ping reducer — an application or service designed to optimize your network connection — can help you get a good ping for gaming, but make sure it comes with the right features. For instance, it should, at a minimum, change game servers smartly and run ping tests in real time while you’re playing.