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What is latency and how much is too much?
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Got lag when you're gaming or freezing in video calls? You might be dealing with high latency. Here's everything you need to know about latency – including what it is, why it happens, and when it becomes a problem
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 20 June 2025
What is latency?
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to another point on a network (like a website or online game server) and back again. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms) and affects how quickly data loads and responds to your actions when you’re playing an online game, browsing a website, or streaming a video.
The lower the latency, the shorter the delay for this data to reach your device and travel from your device to another point on the network. This delay is especially noticeable in activities that require real-time actions, such as online gaming, streaming, or voice calls.
When you play an online game, for example, every move you make needs to be sent to the game server. The server processes your action and sends the result back to you.
If your latency is low, this process happens very quickly, and the game will play smoothly and without lag. But if your latency is high, you're more likely to spot issues like your character in the game's movements being delayed or them teleporting around the map. Both of which aren't ideal!
Latency vs ping: what’s the difference?
Latency and ping are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Latency is the total time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back, while ping is a tool used to measure that time.
When people say "ping," they’re often talking about the latency number it reports, usually in milliseconds (ms). But latency is the delay itself, and ping is a way to measure and describe that delay.
What’s a good latency speed?
That depends on what you’re doing! For most online activities, a latency of 20ms to 50ms is considered excellent, while anything under 100ms is usually considered good enough for everything to work as it should.
Still, for activities that rely on real-time interactions like online gaming or video calls, your latency needs to be even better Online gaming in particular usually needs a latency of less than 50ms plus fast enough broadband speeds so players can react instantly to the action on-screen. If latency goes over 100ms in games, you might start to experience game stuttering or lag, where actions feel delayed or unresponsive.
Some activities, like live streaming or downloading files, are less sensitive to latency. In these cases, even a latency of 100ms to 200ms might not noticeably affect performance. But if latency gets over 300ms, it can disrupt almost any online activity, making it feel slow or frustrating.
What causes high latency?
High latency usually comes down to a mix of connection type, network traffic, distance to servers, and the devices you’re using. While it’s normal for latency to vary slightly, continuously high latency can be a sign that something’s slowing things down in the background.
Here are some of the most common causes of high latency:
Latency is often caused by the physical distance that data needs to travel. The farther your device is from the server you’re trying to connect to, the longer it takes for the data to make the round trip. If you’re in the UK but playing a game that only has US servers, for example, the data has to travel across underwater cables or satellites, which will make your latency worse.
When many people are using the same network at the same time, it can become congested due to the broadband not being able to keep up. This slows down how quickly data can travel to and from your device, causing you higher latency.
The type of internet connection you have at home can also impacts latency. Fibre broadband connections tend to have lower latency compared to older technologies like ADSL or satellite. Satellite internet, in particular has high latency because the data has to travel thousands of miles to reach satellites in orbit and return.
Looking for an upgrade? We've got a range of fibre broadband packages with speeds ranging from 136Mbps with M125 all the way to 1130Mbps when you go gigabit. Check out all of our broadband deals and enter your postcode to see what you can get.
When data travels across the internet, it doesn’t always take the most direct path. It passes through various routers and networks, and each stop adds a tiny delay. If the server you’re trying to connect to is overloaded or slow, it can take longer to respond, adding to your overall latency.
Sometimes, latency is caused by problems on your device or the software you’re using. Outdated hardware, a slow processor, or too many background apps can make it harder for your device to send and receive data efficiently. So if you’re trying to play Call of Duty on a potato, expect latency issues along with super bad FPS!
How can I test my latency speed?
You can test your latency using our helpful broadband speed test. Our test mimics your online activities by uploading and downloading files, and measures how long this takes.
Along with latency, our internet speed check includes your download speed test results, upload speed, and jitter, giving you an accurate overall picture of how fast your connection was to your device during the test. If you’ve got a latency above 100ms according to our test, you may want to look into ways to improve your connection.
Ready to test your latency? Click the button below to open our speed test and check your latency instantly!
How to reduce your latency
There are plenty of ways to improve your connection if you’ve got high latency. We’ve got a full guide on improving latency, but if you just want some quick tips, here are some of the most common methods that can help:
1. Use a wired connection
Switching from WiFi to a wired Ethernet connection can significantly reduce latency. WiFi signals are prone to interference from walls, other devices, and even weather conditions. A wired connection is more stable and provides a direct link between your device and the router, which helps minimise delays.
2. Reduce network traffic
If too many devices are using your internet connection at the same time, it can cause network congestion and increase latency. To reduce this, disconnect devices you’re not using or limit high-bandwidth activities like streaming or downloading large files when you need a low-latency connection.
3. Move closer to your router
If you must use WiFi, being closer to your router can improve the signal strength and reduce latency. Obstacles like walls, furniture, and even other electronic devices can weaken the WiFi signal, increasing delays. It’s always best to place your router in a central location, away from walls and electronic devices that could interfere with the signal to keep your latency down.
4. Choose servers nearby
If possible, connect to servers that are geographically closer to you. Many online games and services allow you to choose a server region and selecting one close to your location reduces the physical distance data must travel. If you use a VPN, choose a server that’s close to your location to keep your latency low.
Will upgrading my broadband improve my latency?
You guessed it! If you've ever dealt with lag during gaming, glitchy video calls, or slow responses when streaming, upgrading your broadband could seriously help.
Looking for an upgrade? With our ultrafast speeds and super-reliable fibre network, your connection reacts quicker – meaning less waiting, smoother gameplay, and fewer “Can you hear me now?” moments.
So If you’re serious about gaming, our gaming broadband deals will be ideal for those intense and competitive moments in online games, giving you minimal packet loss, ping and latency to keep your game running smoothly.
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