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Best Refresh Rate for Gaming: 144Hz vs 240Hz vs 360Hz

If you’re trying to figure out the best refresh rate for gaming, you’ve probably seen “144Hz,” “240Hz,” and even “360Hz” slapped all over gaming monitor boxes. The problem is nobody really explains what actually feels different in real games or when you’re just wasting money.

This guide breaks down the real-world difference between 60, 120/144, 240, and 360Hz so you can pick the best refresh rate for gaming based on what you play and what your PC or console can actually do. If you’re also choosing a new screen size and resolution, pair this with our monitor size guide What Size Monitor Is Best for Gaming? and our resolution breakdown 1080p vs 1440p vs 4K for Gaming so everything lines up.

Quick Verdict: Best Refresh Rate for Gaming

• 60Hz – Fine for casual single-player and light gaming, but feels dated once you’ve tried higher refresh.
• 120/144Hz – Sweet spot for most gamers. Huge jump from 60Hz, much smoother motion, and easier to hit with mid-range hardware.
• 240Hz – Worth it only if you play competitive shooters or esports titles, tune your settings for high FPS, and care about every bit of responsiveness.
• 360Hz and above – Niche. Mainly for high-level competitive players with strong PCs who already max out 240Hz and want small, diminishing gains.

If you’re not sure where you fit:

In 2025, a good 144Hz gaming monitor is the safest “buy once, use for years” choice for most PC and console players. When you’re ready to look at specific models, start with our roundup Best Gaming Monitors for PC and Console and filter by the refresh rate that fits your answers below.

Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate (Simple Explanation)

You’ll see two numbers thrown around when people talk about smoothness:

• Refresh rate (Hz) – How many times your monitor can update the image per second.
• Frame rate (FPS) – How many frames your PC or console is sending out each second.

To feel the benefit of higher refresh rates, your FPS has to be high enough:

• On a 144Hz monitor, the experience feels best when your FPS is around 100–144.
• On a 240Hz monitor, you really want 200+ FPS in your main games.
• If your FPS is stuck around 60–80, you won’t get much out of a 240Hz or 360Hz panel.

Think of it like this:

• Refresh rate = how often your screen can show a new image.
• Frame rate = how often your PC gives it a new image.

If your monitor is faster than your FPS, it just shows the same frame multiple times. That still feels smooth, but it doesn’t use the full potential of the panel.

Why 60Hz Feels Old Once You Move On

If you’ve only ever played at 60Hz, it feels normal… until you try something higher.

Moving from 60Hz to 120/144Hz gives you:

• Much smoother camera pans and mouse movement
• Easier tracking in shooters and racing games
• Menus, UI, and even desktop movement that just feel snappier

For most people, 60 → 144Hz is the biggest jump they’ll ever feel. Going back to 60Hz after a few days on 144Hz usually feels choppy and blurry, especially in fast games.

If you’re on a 60Hz monitor today and you play anything competitive, your very first upgrade should be 120/144Hz, not 4K or extra “HDR” marketing features. You can always circle back later to upgrade resolution and size with the help of our guides on 1080p vs 1440p vs 4K gaming and best monitor size by distance.

144Hz vs 240Hz for Gaming: Who Actually Notices?

This is the big question: is 240Hz worth it over 144Hz for gaming?

The honest answer:

• Going from 60 → 144Hz is huge.
• Going from 144 → 240Hz is noticeable, but only if:
  • You play fast shooters or esports games (CS2, Valorant, Apex, Fortnite, Overwatch, Warzone, etc.)
  • Your PC can often push 200+ FPS with low input lag
  • You’re the type of player who already tweaks sensitivity, crosshairs, and graphics for performance

What actually changes between 144Hz and 240Hz?

• Smoother motion at high FPS. Enemies move more “continuously” across the screen, so tracking them with your mouse feels a bit easier.
• Slightly lower input latency. Your actions show up on screen a little faster when the monitor is refreshing more often.
• Better motion clarity during flicks. When you whip your mouse, the image smears less, so details are easier to see.

Is the difference real? Yes. Is it night and day like 60 vs 144? No.

For a lot of players, 144Hz already feels “instant.” If you’re a casual gamer, you may not feel 240Hz as a big upgrade, especially if your FPS is inconsistent.

When 240Hz is worth it

A 240Hz monitor is worth it if:

• You mainly play ranked shooters or esports titles
• You already own (or plan to buy) a PC that can run those games at 200–300+ FPS on low or medium settings
• You’re trying to squeeze every advantage possible out of your setup

In that case, 240Hz gives you a small but real competitive edge, and you’ll probably appreciate the difference. To see which actual displays fit that bill, check the 240Hz picks in our Best Gaming Monitors for PC and Console guide.

240Hz vs 360Hz: Tiny Gains, Big Price

You’ll also see 240Hz vs 360Hz arguments, especially in CS2 and Valorant communities.

The truth:

• The jump from 144 → 240Hz is already smaller than 60 → 144.
• The jump from 240 → 360Hz is even smaller and much harder for most people to notice.

360Hz makes sense only if:

• You’re an extremely competitive player, often in high ranks or semi-pro
• Your PC can genuinely hit 300+ FPS consistently in your main games
• You’re okay spending more money for a marginal improvement that most people won’t see

For almost everyone else, a strong 240Hz or even 144Hz monitor is a better value and easier to drive with mid-range hardware.

Console Players vs PC: What Refresh Rate Actually Matters

This is where a lot of people overpay.

Modern consoles:

• PS5 and Xbox Series X/S can output up to 120Hz in supported games.
• Many console games are still capped at 60 FPS, with only some competitive titles offering 120 FPS modes.

What that means:

• If you only play on console, a 120/144Hz monitor or TV is plenty.
• Buying a 240Hz monitor for console only is almost always a waste, because the console won’t send enough frames to use it.

For official console settings, you can check Microsoft’s step-by-step guide on enabling 4K gaming at 120Hz on Xbox Series X|S.

Best bets:

• Console-only gamer: look for a 1080p or 1440p 120/144Hz display with good HDMI 2.1 support and low input lag.
• PC + console: a good 144Hz monitor works great for both. If your PC is strong and you play shooters, a 240Hz monitor can still make sense, but the console part doesn’t need it.

If you’re also trying to choose the right screen size for a desk or couch setup, our article What Size Monitor Is Best for Gaming? lines up viewing distance, resolution, and comfort so you don’t accidentally pair the right refresh rate with the wrong panel size.

Don’t Waste Money If This Sounds Like You

High refresh sounds exciting on paper, but it’s easy to buy more than you’ll ever use.

You don’t need 240Hz or 360Hz if:

• You mostly play slow single-player games, RPGs, or strategy titles
• Your PC usually runs games around 60–90 FPS even on low settings
• You prefer maxed-out graphics over raw FPS
• You mainly game on controller from the couch, not on mouse and keyboard at a desk

In these cases, a good 144Hz monitor is the best balance of smoothness, image quality, and price. Use the extra budget on a better panel, better colors, a more comfortable size, or other upgrades from our best gaming accessories list instead of chasing “bigger Hz” numbers.

Quick Checklist: How to Choose in 30 Seconds

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What FPS do you usually get in your main games?
   • Under ~120 FPS → 144Hz is ideal.
   • Often 200+ FPS in esports shooters → 240Hz becomes interesting.
2. What do you play most?
   • Competitive FPS, battle royales, or arena shooters → 240Hz can help.
   • Story games, RPGs, strategy, cozy games → 144Hz is plenty.
3. PC or console?
   • Console-only → 120/144Hz is enough.
   • PC-only or PC-first → pick based on your FPS and game types.
   • PC + console → a strong 144Hz monitor is the most flexible.
4. Budget?
   • On a tight budget, a quality 1080p 144Hz monitor will feel like a huge upgrade over 60Hz.
   • Only move to 240Hz after you’ve already got a solid GPU and know you can push the frames to match it.

If you’re upgrading your whole setup, our best gaming accessories guide includes the monitor and gear picks we like for different budgets, and our Best Gaming Monitors for PC and Console post shows specific displays that hit the refresh rate you’ve just chosen.

FAQ: Best Refresh Rate for Gaming

Is 240Hz worth it over 144Hz for gaming?

It can be, but only for the right player. If you mainly play competitive shooters, your PC pushes 200+ FPS, and you care about every bit of responsiveness, a 240Hz monitor feels smoother and a bit more responsive than 144Hz. For casual gamers or people stuck under 120 FPS, 240Hz usually isn’t worth the extra money.

Can you actually see a difference between 144Hz and 240Hz?

Yes, but it’s subtle compared to the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz. At high FPS, camera movement and enemy motion look a bit cleaner on 240Hz, and input feels slightly more direct. Some players notice it right away; others struggle to see the improvement in blind tests. It’s a real upgrade, just not a dramatic one.

Is 360Hz worth it, or should I just get a 240Hz monitor?

For almost everyone, 240Hz is the more sensible ceiling. 360Hz offers tiny gains in motion clarity and latency that mainly benefit very high-level competitive players with powerful PCs. If you’re not chasing esports careers or already maxing out a 240Hz monitor, put the money into a better GPU, mouse, or a nicer 240Hz/144Hz panel instead.

What is the best refresh rate for gaming on PS5 and Xbox?

For PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, 120Hz support is the key number. A 120/144Hz monitor or TV is ideal. Consoles can’t push 240 FPS in most games, so buying a 240Hz or 360Hz display for console-only gaming doesn’t make sense. Focus on low input lag, good HDR, and the right resolution instead.

Does refresh rate still matter if my FPS is low?

If your FPS is often below 100, you’ll still feel a nice improvement going from 60Hz to 120/144Hz, because the monitor can show new frames more quickly and reduce visible blur. But upgrading beyond 144Hz won’t help much until your FPS climbs. In that situation, a GPU or CPU upgrade is a better first move than a 240Hz or 360Hz monitor.

Is 144Hz enough for gaming in 2025?

Yes. For most players, 144Hz is still the best balance of smoothness, price, and hardware requirements. It’s a massive upgrade over 60Hz, plays well with both PC and console, and doesn’t demand a top-tier GPU to feel fast. Unless you’re deep into competitive shooters and chasing every millisecond, 144Hz is more than enough.

Bottom line:

• Best refresh rate for most gamers: 144Hz
• Best for serious competitive FPS with a strong PC: 240Hz
• Niche, diminishing returns: 360Hz and above

If you’re upgrading from 60Hz, a good 144Hz monitor will make your games feel fresh again without forcing you to rebuild your whole PC. Once you’re consistently hitting high FPS and pushing ranked lobbies, then you can start thinking about that 240Hz upgrade — and when you do, use our Best Gaming Monitors for PC and Console guide to find models that actually deliver.