Interaction to Next Paint (INP) has been one of Google’s Core Web Vitals since March 2024, when it replaced First Input Delay (FID). If your website feels sluggish when people tap buttons or open menus, INP is the number that shows it.
What INP measures
FID only measured the delay before a page started responding to a visitor’s first interaction. INP looks at how quickly the page visibly responds to taps, clicks and key presses throughout the whole visit.
What counts as a good score
Google considers an INP of 200 milliseconds or less “good.” Between 200 and 500 milliseconds “needs improvement,” and anything over 500 milliseconds is “poor.”
Why it matters for small businesses
Core Web Vitals are part of how Google evaluates page experience. More importantly, a site that hesitates when someone taps “Call” or “Book now” feels broken, and people leave.
Common causes of a poor INP
- Heavy page builders and too many plugins loading scripts on every page
- Chat widgets, pop-ups and tracking scripts competing for the browser’s attention
- Large sliders and animations running on page load
How to check yours
Run your homepage through Google PageSpeed Insights and look for INP in the field data section, or check the Core Web Vitals report in Google Search Console.
How we help
Our sites are built lean from the start, and our maintenance plans include ongoing speed tuning. Request a free website audit to see where your site stands.