How to Test Website Speed

Learn how to test website speed using various tools. Understand metrics, interpret results, and prioritize optimizations based on data.

speedperformancetesting

Why Test Website Speed?

Speed testing gives you objective data to identify problems and track improvements. Without measurement, you're optimizing blindly.

Speed Testing Tools

  • Google PageSpeed Insights - Lab and field data, Core Web Vitals
  • WebPageTest - Detailed waterfall charts, filmstrip view, multiple locations
  • GTmetrix - Combines Lighthouse and WebPageTest data
  • BulkAudit - Test multiple URLs simultaneously
  • Chrome DevTools - Network and Performance panels for debugging

Key Metrics to Monitor

  • Core Web Vitals: LCP, INP, CLS
  • Time to First Byte (TTFB)
  • First Contentful Paint (FCP)
  • Total Blocking Time (TBT)
  • Speed Index

Frequently Asked Questions

Tools use different testing conditions (location, device, network speed) and may weight metrics differently. Focus on trends rather than absolute scores.
Yes, especially if you have a global audience. Test from locations where your users are to understand their actual experience.

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