How do I measure time to first byte for my website?

Enter the URL and this tool measures its time-to-first-byte over 3 runs, reporting the median so one-off spikes don't skew the result.

TTFB (time to first byte) is how long the server takes to start responding after receiving a request. It covers DNS, connection, and server processing up to the first byte of the response. It is the purest measure of backend speed.

Under 200ms is excellent, under 600ms is good, and anything over 1 second is worth investigating. Google recommends keeping server response times low because TTFB delays every resource on the page.

Why does this tool run the test 3 times?

A single measurement can be skewed by a cold cache, a slow DNS lookup, or a network hiccup. Three runs with a reported median give a far more honest picture of typical performance.

How can I improve a slow TTFB?

Common fixes: enable full-page caching, optimize slow database queries, use a CDN so content is served near visitors, choose hosting in your audience region, and reduce heavy server-side processing on the critical path.

Does TTFB affect SEO?

Yes. Google uses page speed signals in ranking, and TTFB feeds into metrics like Largest Contentful Paint. A slow backend delays everything downstream, so fixing TTFB is usually the highest-leverage speed win.

DEVELOPER TOOLS · FREE ONLINE TOOL

TTFB Checker

Measure honest time-to-first-byte with 3 real runs and a median gradeEvery page load has a moment of silence between the request going out and the first byte coming back, and that silence has a name: time to first byte. This checker measures exactly that interval in milliseconds.

✓ Free to use✓ No sign-up✓ Ready in your browser

// TTFB CHECKER · GET STARTED

Use TTFB Checker

Measure honest time-to-first-byte with 3 real runs and a median grade

// TTFB CHECKER · HOW IT WORKS

How to use the TTFB Checker

Enter URL

Enter the website URL you want to test (e.g. https://example.com).

Run 3 measurements

Click "Measure TTFB" and wait for 3 timed runs to complete.

Review the median

Review the median TTFB, the grade, and the per-run breakdown.

// TTFB CHECKER · ABOUT THIS TOOL

About the TTFB Checker

Time to first byte is the one speed number that isolates your server from everything else: no JavaScript or render blocking, just how fast the backend answers. This free checker times real requests to the first readable response byte, repeats three times, and reports the median.

The result is graded A to F with honest context about what it means and where to look next. Because measurements run from our servers, use them to compare relative changes as you optimize.

Where it helps most

The backend's report card.

Slow WordPress

A WordPress site that got slower over the years usually shows it in TTFB first, as plugins and database bloat accumulate.

Host comparisons

Comparing two hosting providers becomes objective measurement instead of anecdote.

CDN verification

Verifying a CDN cache is working shows up as dramatically lower TTFB on cache hits versus misses.

Cache proof

After enabling server-side caching, the before-and-after TTFB numbers prove the change worked.

Reading the number

Which half is guilty.

High TTFB, fast download

The server is slow to start responding: PHP execution, database queries, or an overloaded host.

Low TTFB, slow load

The server answers promptly but the page itself is heavy: unoptimized assets are the culprit.

Rough scale

Under 200 milliseconds is excellent, 200 to 500 acceptable for dynamic sites, above 600 deserves investigation.

TTFB Checker: built for trust

TTFB isolated from download size, measured live. Measure a few times and trust the pattern.

// TTFB CHECKER · COMMON QUESTIONS

TTFB Checker FAQs

What exactly is TTFB?

Time to first byte is the milliseconds between sending a request and receiving the first byte of the response. It covers DNS lookup, connection setup, and the server's processing time, but not the download of the full page, which makes it a pure measure of backend responsiveness.

What is a good TTFB value?

Why is my TTFB high but the page still loads fast?

How is TTFB different from full page load time?

How do I reduce a high TTFB?

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