GUIDE · PING · 8 min read · Updated 2026-05-27

Ping test: complete guide to internet connection and latency

Measure network latency, diagnose connection issues, and optimise your internet performance for gaming, streaming, and work.

By the Check.Systems team

TL;DR

Ping is the round-trip time (in ms) between your device and a server. Under 20ms is excellent. Over 100ms causes noticeable lag. Use our ping tool to test right now.

What is a ping test?

A ping test measures how long it takes for a small packet of data to travel from your device to a server and back again. This round-trip time, called latency, is measured in milliseconds (ms) and directly impacts your internet experience.

Why ping matters:

Gaming — low ping = responsive gameplay.
Video calls — reduces delays and echoing.
Web browsing — faster page loading.
Streaming — smoother real-time content.
Remote work — better cloud app performance.

Good ping times:

< 20ms — excellent (competitive gaming).
20–50ms — very good (most activities).
50–100ms — acceptable (casual use).
100–300ms — noticeable delays.
> 300ms — poor (gaming problems).

How to run a ping test

There are several ways to test your ping, from simple online tools to command-line utilities. Choose the method that best fits your technical comfort level.

Method 1: online ping test (easiest)

Our ping test tool provides instant results with no technical knowledge required and tests your connection to multiple servers worldwide.

Method 2: command line ping (advanced)

For detailed diagnostics, use your operating system's built-in ping command.

Windows. Press Win + R, type "cmd", press Enter. Then run:

ping google.com

Mac/Linux. Press Cmd + Space, type "terminal". Then run:

ping -c 4 google.com

Sample ping results

PING google.com (142.250.191.78): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 142.250.191.78: icmp_seq=0 time=23.2 ms
64 bytes from 142.250.191.78: icmp_seq=1 time=24.1 ms
64 bytes from 142.250.191.78: icmp_seq=2 time=22.8 ms
64 bytes from 142.250.191.78: icmp_seq=3 time=23.5 ms

--- google.com ping statistics ---
4 packets transmitted, 4 received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max = 22.8/23.4/24.1 ms

Understanding ping test results

Ping results contain valuable information about your connection quality. Three metrics matter most.

Response time (ms). The most important metric — how long each packet took to return. Lower is better, consistency matters, watch for spikes.

Packet loss (%). Percentage of packets that didn't return successfully. 0% is perfect, 1–2% is acceptable, 5%+ indicates a problem.

Jitter (variation). How much ping times vary between packets. Low jitter means stable; high jitter means inconsistent. Heavily affects gaming and video calls.

Good connection signs: consistent ping times (little variation), low average latency (< 50ms), zero or minimal packet loss (0–1%), quick DNS resolution.

Problem indicators: highly variable ping times (jitter), high average latency (> 100ms), packet loss (> 3%), request timeouts.

Gaming and ping: what you need to know

For competitive gaming, ping is often more important than download speed. Here's what different ping ranges mean for gaming:

< 20ms — professional esports level, perfect responsiveness.
20–50ms — excellent for all games, competitive advantage.
50–100ms — good for most games, slight delays in fast-paced games.
100ms+ — noticeable lag, affects competitive performance.

Pro tip: test ping to game servers, not just general internet.

FPS games (critical low ping): Counter-Strike < 30ms ideal, Valorant < 35ms recommended, Call of Duty < 40ms competitive, Apex Legends < 50ms acceptable.

Other game types: MMORPGs < 100ms playable, strategy games < 150ms acceptable, racing games < 50ms recommended, fighting games < 30ms critical.

Troubleshooting high ping issues

If your ping tests show high latency or inconsistent results, try these systematic troubleshooting steps.

1. Check your local network

Restart your modem and router — power cycle for 30 seconds.
Use Ethernet instead of WiFi — wired connections are more stable.
Close bandwidth-heavy applications — streaming, downloads, backups.
Check for interference — move closer to router, avoid obstacles.

2. Test different servers

Try multiple ping targets — Google, Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), your ISP.
Test at different times — peak hours vs. off-peak.
Compare with mobile hotspot — isolate ISP vs. device issues.
Check geographic distance — closer servers should have lower ping.

3. Optimise your connection

Update network drivers — especially WiFi and Ethernet adapters.
Change DNS servers — try Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8).
Adjust Quality of Service (QoS) — prioritise gaming/important traffic.
Contact your ISP — report consistently high ping times.

Advanced ping testing techniques

For network professionals and power users, these advanced techniques provide deeper insights into network performance.

Continuous monitoring

Windows:

ping -t google.com

Mac/Linux:

ping google.com

Runs until stopped (Ctrl+C). Good for monitoring stability over time.

Packet size testing

Large packets:

ping -l 1472 google.com

Small packets:

ping -l 32 google.com

Tests how packet size affects latency. Useful for optimising applications.

Pro tips for network analysis

Baseline testing — record normal ping times for comparison.
Geographic testing — test servers in different regions.
Time-based testing — compare peak vs. off-peak performance.
Application-specific testing — ping gaming servers, CDNs, work servers.