What is a Good Ping for Gaming? The Ultimate Guide (2025)

Understanding Ping in Gaming

When it comes to online gaming, ping is king. Even with the fastest graphics card and the most powerful processor, high latency can ruin your experience. But what exactly counts as a "good" ping in 2025?

Ping Ranges Explained

• 0-20ms (Excellent): This is the holy grail of gaming latency. Actions feel instantaneous. Essential for professional esports players in games like CS2 and Valorant.
• 20-50ms (Great): The standard for most competitive gamers. Very responsive and smooth for almost any genre.
• 50-100ms (Playable): Acceptable for most casual gaming, though you might notice slight delays in fast-paced shooters.
• 100-150ms (High): Noticeable lag. Playable for turn-based games (like Hearthstone) but difficult for FPS or fighting games.
• 150ms+ (Unplayable): Significant delay. Characters may rubber-band, and hit registration will be poor.

Genre-Specific Requirements

Different games have different tolerances for latency:

• FPS (CS2, Valorant, CoD): Requires < 50ms for competitive play. Every millisecond counts for reaction times.
• MOBA (League of Legends, Dota 2): Playable up to 80ms, but < 40ms is ideal for last-hitting and skill shots.
• MMORPG (WoW, FFXIV): Can tolerate up to 150ms due to the global cooldown system, though lower is always better for raiding.
• RTS (StarCraft, Age of Empires): Generally playable up to 100ms, but high APM players prefer lower latency.

How to Lower Your Ping

If your ping is too high, try these quick fixes:

1. Use Ethernet: Always prefer a wired Cat6 cable over Wi-Fi for stability.
2. Close Background Apps: Shut down bandwidth-heavy apps like Steam downloads, Netflix, or Spotify.
3. Select Local Servers: Always choose the game server closest to your physical location.
4. Update Network Drivers: Ensure your network adapter drivers are up to date.
5. Use a DNS Server: Switching to Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) can sometimes improve routing.