A slow website costs you customers. People leave pages that take too long to load, and Google uses page experience signals, including Core Web Vitals, as part of how it ranks pages. Here is what the metrics mean without the jargon.
The three Core Web Vitals
| Metric | What it measures | Good score |
|---|---|---|
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | How quickly the main content appears | 2.5 seconds or less |
| INP (Interaction to Next Paint) | How quickly the page responds when someone taps or clicks | 200 milliseconds or less |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | How much the page jumps around while loading | 0.1 or less |
Google assesses these using real visitor data, aiming for at least 75% of visits to hit the “good” threshold.
How to check your scores
- PageSpeed Insights: enter any URL to see real-user data and lab tests.
- Google Search Console: the Core Web Vitals report groups pages with similar issues across your whole site.
Common problems and fixes
Slow LCP
- Compress and resize large images and use modern formats like WebP
- Use page caching and a fast host
- Reduce render-blocking CSS and JavaScript
- Avoid heavy sliders and video backgrounds at the top of the page
Poor INP
- Remove plugins and scripts you do not need
- Delay non-essential third-party scripts such as chat widgets
- Limit heavy animation libraries and effects
High CLS
- Set width and height on images and videos
- Reserve space for banners, ads and embeds
- Load web fonts in a way that does not shift text
Why speed matters beyond SEO
Speed affects revenue. Faster pages keep visitors engaged, reduce bounce rates and make it easier to call, book or buy, especially on mobile connections.
Need a faster website?
Our web development team builds fast, mobile-first websites and fixes Core Web Vitals on existing sites. Get a free audit that includes a speed review.
Frequently asked questions
Are Core Web Vitals a ranking factor?
Yes, as part of Google’s page experience signals. Relevance and content quality matter more, but speed can make a difference between similar pages.
What replaced FID?
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) replaced First Input Delay (FID) as a Core Web Vital in March 2024.
Can WordPress sites pass Core Web Vitals?
Yes. With good hosting, caching, optimized images and a lean set of plugins, WordPress sites can score well.
