What Is a Good Ping Speed? Complete Guide for 2025
Ping, also known as latency, measures the time it takes for a small data packet to travel from your device to a server and back. It's measured in milliseconds (ms), and lower is always better.
When you run a speed test on pong.com, one of the first things we measure is your ping. But what does the number actually mean?
What Do the Numbers Mean?
Under 20ms — Excellent. You'll have a virtually lag-free experience for everything from competitive gaming to video conferencing. This is typically achievable with fiber optic connections.
20-50ms — Good. More than adequate for most online activities including casual gaming, streaming, and video calls. Most cable and quality DSL connections fall in this range.
50-100ms — Fair. You might notice slight delays in real-time applications. Online gaming is still playable, but you may be at a disadvantage in fast-paced competitive games.
Over 100ms — Poor. Noticeable lag in most real-time applications. Video calls may stutter, and gaming will feel sluggish. Consider checking your connection or switching providers.
What Affects Your Ping?
Several factors influence your ping speed:
Physical distance — The further the server, the higher the ping. A server across the country will have higher latency than one in your city.
Connection type — Fiber optic > Cable > DSL > Satellite. Fiber offers the lowest latency due to the speed of light through glass fibers.
Network congestion — During peak hours, shared networks can experience higher ping due to more users competing for bandwidth.
Router quality — Older or cheaper routers can add latency. Gaming routers with QoS (Quality of Service) features can prioritize low-latency traffic.
Wi-Fi vs Ethernet — A wired Ethernet connection almost always provides lower and more consistent ping than Wi-Fi.
How to Test Your Ping
The easiest way to test your ping is to use our free speed test tool right here on pong.com. Just click the 'Start Test' button on the homepage and you'll get your ping measurement in seconds, along with download speed, upload speed, and jitter.
Tips for Lowering Your Ping
1. Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi
2. Close background applications that use the internet
3. Restart your router regularly
4. Choose game servers closer to your location
5. Upgrade your router if it's more than 3-4 years old
6. Contact your ISP if ping is consistently high