Key Takeaways
- Core Web Vitals measure loading (LCP), responsiveness (INP) and visual stability (CLS).
- Good targets: LCP within 2.5s, INP within 200ms, CLS below 0.1 for most real visits.
- Image optimisation, lighter JavaScript and good hosting fix most issues.
Slow websites lose visitors, leads and rankings. Google's Core Web Vitals measure real user experience and are part of its page experience signals. Faster sites also tend to convert better.
The three Core Web Vitals
| Metric | Measures | Good threshold |
|---|---|---|
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | How fast the main content loads | ≤ 2.5 seconds |
| INP (Interaction to Next Paint) | How quickly the page responds to taps and clicks | ≤ 200 milliseconds |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | How much the layout jumps while loading | ≤ 0.1 |
Google evaluates these at the 75th percentile of real user visits, separately for mobile and desktop.
How to measure
- PageSpeed Insights: field data and lab diagnostics for any URL
- Google Search Console: Core Web Vitals report across your site
- Chrome DevTools / Lighthouse: detailed lab testing
- Real user monitoring: for larger sites
Fixing LCP
- Compress and resize images; use WebP or AVIF
- Preload the hero image and key fonts
- Use a CDN and fast hosting
- Reduce render-blocking CSS and JavaScript
- Avoid huge sliders above the fold
Fixing INP
- Reduce and defer third-party scripts (chat widgets, trackers)
- Break long JavaScript tasks
- Avoid heavy page builders and unused plugins
- Optimise event handlers
Fixing CLS
- Set width and height on images and videos
- Reserve space for ads, embeds and banners
- Use font-display strategies to avoid text jumps
- Avoid inserting content above existing content
WordPress-specific tips
- Use a lightweight theme
- Limit plugins to essentials
- Use a caching and image optimisation solution
- Choose quality hosting with server-level caching
Business impact
Faster pages reduce bounce rates and improve conversions, especially on mobile networks. Performance is also a foundation for appearing in AI search.
If your site is slow and outdated, consider a performance-focused redesign.
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Explore Website DevelopmentGet a Free QuoteRelated reading: How to Get Into AI Search Results · Website Redesign Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals are Google metrics measuring loading performance (LCP), interactivity (INP) and visual stability (CLS) based on real user data.
Do Core Web Vitals affect Google rankings?
They are part of Google's page experience signals. Relevance and content quality matter most, but good page experience helps, especially when competing pages are similar.
What replaced FID in Core Web Vitals?
INP (Interaction to Next Paint) replaced FID as the responsiveness metric in 2024.
How can I make my WordPress site faster?
Use lightweight themes, fewer plugins, caching, image optimisation, a CDN and good hosting.
