What is Good Jitter? Ping vs Jitter Explained
⚡ Quick Answer
- Good jitter: Under 20ms (ideal for gaming)
- Acceptable jitter: 20-30ms (minor hiccups)
- High jitter: 30ms+ (causes lag spikes)
- Ping vs Jitter: Ping measures speed, jitter measures stability
- Latency vs Ping: Same thing, different names
If your game lags despite fast internet, you likely have high jitter. Good jitter is under 20ms — anything above 30ms causes lag spikes. Many gamers focus on ping (latency), but jitter matters more. Here's the difference between ping vs jitter and what you can do about it.
What is Jitter? (Simple Explanation)
Jitter is the inconsistency in your ping over time. If your ping jumps from 30ms to 150ms and back to 30ms, that's high jitter. Think of it like this:
- Ping: How fast your internet responds (one-time measurement)
- Jitter: How stable your ping is (variation over time)
What is Good Jitter Speed?
Here's the definitive breakdown of jitter quality based on network optimization experts at wtfast:
| Jitter Range | Rating | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10ms | Excellent | Pro-level gaming, flawless video calls |
| 10-20ms | Good | Competitive gaming, smooth streaming |
| 20-30ms | Acceptable | Casual gaming, occasional hiccups |
| 30-50ms | Poor | Noticeable lag spikes, frustrating |
| 50ms+ | Bad | Rubberbanding, unplayable for competitive |
Ping vs Jitter: What's the Difference?
🎯 Ping (Latency)
- Measures response time
- Single measurement
- Lower = faster
- Good: under 50ms
📊 Jitter
- Measures stability
- Variation over time
- Lower = more stable
- Good: under 20ms
The Golden Rule
A consistent 50ms Ping with 5ms jitter is better than a 20ms Ping with 40ms jitter. Stability beats speed.
Latency vs Ping: Are They Different?
No, latency and ping are the same thing. "Ping" is the common term (from the command-line tool), while "latency" is the technical term. Both measure round-trip time (RTT) — how long it takes for data to travel to a server and return.
According to the FCC's Measuring Broadband America 2024 Report, fiber connections achieve median latencies of just 7-14ms, while cable is 15-25ms.
What is High Jitter?
High jitter (30ms+) causes these problems:
- Rubberbanding: Characters teleport around in games
- Audio distortion: Voice chat becomes choppy
- Video freezing: Zoom/Teams calls stutter
- Input lag: Actions feel delayed and inconsistent
How to Fix High Jitter
- Use Ethernet: WiFi is the #1 cause of jitter. A wired connection can reduce jitter by 50-80%.
- Enable QoS: Prioritize gaming/video traffic on your router.
- Close Background Apps: Downloads and updates cause ping spikes.
- Test with ScanPing: Measure your jitter to identify if it's your network or ISP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good jitter?
Good jitter is under 20ms. For competitive gaming, aim for under 10ms. Jitter between 20-30ms is acceptable for casual use. Anything above 30ms will cause noticeable lag spikes and rubberbanding.
What is the difference between ping and jitter?
Ping (latency) is the time for data to travel to a server and back, measured once. Jitter is the variation in ping over time. A stable 50ms ping is better than a ping that fluctuates between 20ms and 100ms.
What is the difference between latency and ping?
Latency and ping are essentially the same thing. Both measure the round-trip time for data packets. 'Ping' is the common term, while 'latency' is the technical term. They are used interchangeably.
What is high jitter?
High jitter is anything above 30ms. It causes lag spikes, rubberbanding in games, choppy video calls, and unstable connections. Jitter above 50ms makes real-time applications nearly unusable.
Is jitter more important than ping for gaming?
Yes, for most gamers jitter matters more than raw ping. A consistent 60ms ping with 5ms jitter feels smoother than a 30ms ping with 40ms jitter. Stability is more important than speed.
Sources & References
- • FCC Measuring Broadband America 2024 — Latency data by connection type
- • Red Bull Esports — Professional gaming network requirements
- • wtfast — Jitter optimization for competitive gaming
Test Your Jitter Now
Find out if high jitter is causing your lag. Our free test measures ping, jitter, and download/upload speeds.
Run Free Speed Test →