Core Web Vitals are Google’s measures of how fast and stable a page feels to real visitors. They are part of Google’s page experience signals.
The three metrics
| Metric | Measures | Good |
|---|---|---|
| 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 to taps and clicks | 200 ms or less |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | How much the layout jumps while loading | 0.1 or less |
Where to check
- PageSpeed Insights for any page.
- The Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console for your whole site.
Fixing slow LCP
- Compress and resize the main banner image with our image compressor.
- Use modern formats like WebP; convert with our image format converter.
- Use better hosting and caching.
- Avoid heavy sliders at the top of the page.
Fixing poor INP
- Remove unused plugins and scripts.
- Limit chat widgets, pop-ups and trackers.
- Defer non-essential JavaScript.
Fixing high CLS
- Set width and height on images and videos.
- Reserve space for banners and ads.
- Load fonts carefully.
How much does it matter?
Great content still matters most for rankings, but a fast site keeps visitors and brings more enquiries. Read how to make your website faster or see our speed optimisation service.
Want the full picture? This article is part of SEO: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
