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Website design · 2026 edition
Website speed: measure, understand, speed up
A slow website drives visitors away before they read a single line. Google takes it into account too. Here are the three figures to watch, how to measure them and what to do to improve them.
- The 3 thresholds
- Measuring
- The 10 actions
Updated October 2026Rules checkedNo jargon
Speed in 30 seconds
In short
Google measures speed with three Core Web Vitals, observed on real visits. The main content should appear within 2.5 seconds, the website should respond to a click within 200 milliseconds, and the page should not shift while loading (a score of 0.1 or less). The most common causes of slowness are images that are too heavy, too many scripts and plugins, and weak hosting.
Responsiveness
Response to a click within 200 ms.
Stability
Nothing jumps on screen: a score of 0.1 or less.
Measured on real visitors
At least 3 visits out of 4 must pass.
The three signals and their thresholds
These are the thresholds published by Google. Responsiveness replaced the old First Input Delay in March 2024.
| Signal | Good | Needs improvement | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest element display (LCP) | 2.5 s or less | Between 2.5 and 4 s | Over 4 s |
| Interaction responsiveness (INP) | 200 ms or less | Between 200 and 500 ms | Over 500 ms |
| Visual stability (CLS) | 0.1 or less | Between 0.1 and 0.25 | Over 0.25 |
These signals matter to Google, but they do not replace useful content. A fast, empty website will not rank higher than a complete one that is slightly slower.
Measure your website in 4 steps
Allow 20 minutes. Do it on your home page and on your two most visited pages.
The 10 actions that really speed things up
Ranked from the most cost-effective to the most technical. The first three often solve most of the problem.
1. Lighten your images
Resize them to their display size and use a modern format, for example WebP at quality 80 to 85. A 4 MB photo can often drop below 200 KB.
2. Remove what you do not need
Plugins, image sliders, background videos, duplicate tracking scripts.
3. Load what is lower down later
Off-screen images load as the visitor approaches them.
4. Reserve space for images
Setting width and height stops the page from jumping.
5. Limit fonts
One or two families, few weights, a fallback font shown immediately.
6. Turn on caching
The browser keeps the files and does not download them again on every page.
7. Compress files
The server sends compressed files, which are often much lighter.
8. Nearby, modern hosting
Servers close to your visitors, for example in Europe for a European audience.
9. Lighten your scripts
Less code running on each click means better responsiveness.
10. Choose a lightweight website
A static business website, with no database, is often very fast by nature.
From a one-page site to a website that works for you
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The website and the domain name are in your name. Simple Website: text and logo supplied by you, going live as an option. Indicative prices.
A fast website that never lets an enquiry slip away
A lightweight website loads fast. Automations run in the background without slowing it down.
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The enquiry is sent in a second, the processing happens elsewhere.
Acknowledgement
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WhatsApp button
A simple link that weighs nothing.
Your questions, our answers
What is a good loading time for a website?
According to Google's thresholds, the main content should appear within 2.5 seconds for at least 3 visits out of 4. Faster is even better.
How do I test my website speed for free?
Google offers a free measurement tool: you enter the page address and get the three signals plus recommendations. Test on a real phone too.
Does speed affect SEO?
Yes, Core Web Vitals are part of what Google takes into account. But relevant content still matters more.
Why is my website slow?
Most often: images that are too heavy, too many plugins or scripts, and underpowered hosting. The measurement tool usually points to the main cause.
What is INP?
It is the signal that measures how responsive a page is when you click or tap the screen. It replaced the old First Input Delay in March 2024. The "good" threshold is 200 milliseconds.
Is switching hosts enough to speed up a website?
Sometimes, if the host is the cause. But if the images and scripts are too heavy, the website will stay slow elsewhere.
Sources: Google Search Central, Core Web Vitals documentation · web.dev (LCP, INP and CLS thresholds and the 75th percentile method) · announcement of INP replacing FID (March 2024).
General information, up to date as of October 2026. It does not replace advice from a professional.
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