Internet latency is the delay between sending a request and receiving a response, measured in milliseconds (ms). It is also called round-trip time (RTT) or ping. Latency determines how "instant" online interactions feel, which is why it matters so much for gaming, video calls, and trading platforms.
What Causes High Latency
- Distance: Data travels at roughly the speed of light through fiber. A server across the world means more travel time.
- Network hops: Each router your packet passes through adds a small delay.
- Congestion: Busy network paths cause packets to queue, adding latency.
- Wi-Fi vs Ethernet: Wi-Fi adds 1-5ms per hop; wired is more deterministic.
- VPN: Routing through a VPN server adds the latency of reaching that server.
Good Internet Latency by Activity
| Activity | Good Latency | Acceptable | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive gaming (FPS) | Under 15ms | 15-40ms | Over 60ms |
| Online gaming (general) | Under 30ms | 30-80ms | Over 100ms |
| Video conferencing | Under 50ms | 50-150ms | Over 200ms |
| Web browsing | Under 50ms | 50-200ms | Over 400ms |
| Streaming video | Not critical | Any | N/A (buffered) |
How to Fix High Latency
- Switch from Wi-Fi to wired Ethernet
- Choose a VPN server closer to your geographic location
- Use WireGuard-based VPN instead of OpenVPN (lower overhead)
- Upgrade your router (old routers add processing latency)
- Switch to a fiber connection (lower base latency than cable or DSL)
- Avoid satellite internet for latency-sensitive use (Starlink is ~20-50ms; traditional satellite is 600+ms)
People Also Ask
- What is a good internet latency?
- Under 20ms is excellent. Under 50ms is good for most uses including video calls and gaming. Over 100ms is noticeable in real-time applications.
- How do I fix my internet latency?
- Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, choose a closer server or VPN server, and upgrade your router. If latency is consistently high, contact your ISP - it may indicate a routing or line quality issue.
Related: Ping and latency | Jitter | Speed Test