What Is a Good Ping or Latency for Gaming and Streaming?

When it comes to online gaming and streaming, download and upload speeds aren't the only important metrics. Ping (or latency) can make the difference between a smooth, responsive experience and a frustrating one filled with lag and delays.

Understanding Ping and Latency

Ping is the time it takes for a small data packet to travel from your device to a server and back again. It's measured in milliseconds (ms), and lower numbers are better. The term comes from the ping utility, which sends ICMP echo request packets to target servers to test the connection.

Latency is often used interchangeably with ping, though technically it refers to any delay in data transmission. For gamers and streamers, latency encompasses the total delay between an action (like clicking a mouse) and seeing the result on screen.

Ping Ranges and What They Mean

Here's how different ping values affect your gaming and streaming experience:

Below 20ms: Excellent, virtually no perceptible delay
20-50ms: Very good, suitable for fast-paced competitive games
50-100ms: Average, acceptable for most casual gaming
100-150ms: Below average, noticeable lag in fast-paced games
Above 150ms: Poor, significant lag and delay in most games
Above 200ms: Very poor, most competitive games become difficult to play

Good Ping Ranges for Different Game Types

Fast-Paced Competitive Games

Games like first-person shooters (FPS), fighting games, and MOBAs require quick reactions and precise timing:

Ideal ping: Below 30ms
Acceptable ping: 30-60ms
Examples: Counter-Strike, Valorant, Street Fighter, League of Legends, Dota 2

Battle Royale Games

These large-scale survival games have slightly more tolerance for higher ping:

Ideal ping: Below 50ms
Acceptable ping: 50-80ms
Examples: Fortnite, Apex Legends, PUBG, Warzone

MMORPGs and Strategy Games

These games typically have more forgiving netcode and can be enjoyed with higher ping:

Ideal ping: Below 80ms
Acceptable ping: 80-120ms
Examples: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Civilization, Age of Empires

Ping Requirements for Streaming

If you're streaming your gameplay to platforms like Twitch or YouTube, two types of ping matter:

Game server ping: As described above, this affects your gameplay
Streaming server ping: This affects how quickly your stream reaches the platform's servers

For quality streaming:

Streaming server ping should ideally be below 100ms
Stable ping is often more important than low ping
Upload bandwidth remains the primary concern for stream quality

Factors That Affect Ping

1. Physical Distance

The farther you are from the server, the higher your ping will be. This is why many games offer regional servers to minimize physical distance.

2. Connection Type

Different internet connection types have different inherent latencies:

Fiber: Lowest latency (5-10ms)
Cable: Good latency (10-20ms)
DSL: Average latency (15-40ms)
Wireless/4G/5G: Variable latency (20-100ms)
Satellite: High latency (500-800ms)

3. Network Congestion

Peak usage times can cause network congestion, leading to higher ping. This is why you might experience worse performance during evenings or weekends.

4. Wi-Fi vs. Wired

Wi-Fi adds additional latency compared to wired Ethernet connections:

Wired connection typically adds 1-2ms of latency
Wi-Fi can add 5-20ms or more, especially with interference

How to Improve Your Ping

Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi whenever possible
Select game servers closest to your physical location
Close background applications that might be using your network
Update your router firmware and consider QoS (Quality of Service) settings
Try a gaming-focused VPN (can sometimes improve routing)
Upgrade your internet plan to one with better routing and lower latency
Play during off-peak hours to avoid network congestion

Jitter: The Overlooked Metric

While low ping is important, consistency is equally crucial. Jitter refers to the variation in ping over time. A connection with a stable 60ms ping often provides a better experience than one that fluctuates between 20ms and 100ms.

For a smooth gaming experience, aim for jitter below 10ms.

Conclusion

Understanding ping and latency is essential for optimizing your gaming and streaming setup. While download and upload speeds get most of the attention, a low and stable ping can make a dramatic difference in how responsive your games feel and how well you can compete.

For competitive gaming, prioritize connections with low ping to game servers. For streaming, ensure you have both adequate upload bandwidth and a stable connection to streaming servers.