For most video editors, 60Hz is enough. Choose 120Hz when you want smoother scrolling and timeline movement, regularly review 60 fps footage, or want one display for editing and gaming. Treat 144Hz and faster as optional unless another workflow specifically needs it.
The number on the box is only part of the decision. A high refresh rate does not make a display color accurate, and it cannot repair dropped frames caused by decoding, effects, storage, or playback settings. This guide separates those issues so you can spend money where it will improve the edit.
Updated July 30, 2026. Technical guidance was checked against current Apple and Adobe documentation. Product capabilities can vary by computer, port, cable, resolution, and display mode.
Quick answer: the best refresh rate for video editing
| Refresh rate | Best fit | Practical tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | Most 24, 25, and 30 fps editing; color-first budgets | Capable and widely compatible, but desktop motion is less fluid |
| 120Hz | 60 fps footage, smoother UI, mixed editing and gaming | Excellent all-around upgrade if color and resolution remain strong |
| 144Hz+ | Gaming-heavy workstations or specialized high-frame-rate use | Often costs more without improving grading accuracy |
My default recommendation: buy the best color-accurate monitor that meets your resolution and connection needs. Prefer 120Hz when it fits the budget without forcing a compromise in panel quality. Otherwise, a strong 60Hz creative display remains a sensible editing choice.
Refresh rate vs frame rate
Refresh rate is how many times the display can update each second, measured in hertz. Frame rate is how many distinct video frames the footage or sequence contains each second, measured in frames per second. They interact, but they are not the same specification.
A useful monitoring mode lets the display repeat each video frame evenly. Apple recommends choosing a refresh rate that divides evenly into the content frame rate and gives 48Hz for 24 fps material as an example. The same principle explains why 120Hz is convenient: it is evenly divisible by 24, 30, and 60.
- 24 fps: 48Hz, 72Hz, 96Hz, or 120Hz can produce even frame repetition.
- 25 fps: 50Hz or 100Hz is the clean match commonly used in 50Hz regions.
- 30 fps: 60Hz or 120Hz provides even repetition.
- 50 fps: 50Hz, 100Hz, or another supported multiple can be appropriate.
- 60 fps: 60Hz or 120Hz is the straightforward match.
This does not mean you must change the display for every clip in an ordinary edit. It matters most when judging motion and cadence. A dedicated output or reference-monitoring path may also be more reliable than the desktop viewer for finishing work.
60Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz for editing
60Hz: still the practical baseline
60Hz is adequate for most editing timelines and common delivery frame rates. It is especially reasonable when the budget is better spent on accurate color, a larger useful workspace, uniform backlighting, calibration support, or the ports required by the computer.
The limitation is feel, not basic capability. Scrolling, pointer motion, panel animation, and rapid timeline scrubbing look less fluid than they do at 120Hz. A 24 fps preview on a fixed 60Hz desktop also cannot repeat every source frame for an equal number of display refreshes.
120Hz: the useful premium
120Hz is the sweet spot for editors who value a smoother desktop and regularly handle 60 fps footage. It is also an exact multiple of 24, 30, and 60, which makes it flexible for common project rates. The benefit is visible outside playback too: long editing sessions can feel more responsive when navigating a dense timeline.
Do not assume every 4K 120Hz signal path supports the same bit depth, chroma format, or HDR mode. Confirm the computer, GPU, cable, port, dock, and monitor can deliver the complete mode you intend to use.
144Hz and faster: optional for most editors
144Hz is common on gaming displays and makes general interaction feel fluid. It is not automatically a better video-editing choice. It is not an even multiple of 30 or 60, and a fast gaming panel may prioritize response time over uniformity, calibration, or wide-gamut accuracy.
If you edit and play games on the same workstation, 144Hz or faster may be the right compromise. For a dedicated editing display, compare it against a color-focused 60Hz or 120Hz option rather than treating the largest refresh-rate number as the winner.
Choose by workflow, not by the biggest number
You mostly deliver 24 or 30 fps
Start with a good 60Hz monitor. Move to 120Hz if you want smoother interaction, can preserve the same color quality, or frequently judge 24 fps motion using a compatible 120Hz mode.
You regularly shoot or deliver 50 or 60 fps
120Hz is more compelling. It gives a smooth desktop and an even multiple for 60 fps. For 50 fps work, confirm that the display and operating system offer a compatible 50Hz or 100Hz mode when cadence judgment matters.
You edit high-frame-rate slow motion
A faster display makes source review and interface motion easier, but the timeline and intended delivery rate still control what the audience sees. High-speed capture interpreted as slow motion does not require the monitor to run at the camera's capture rate.
You grade color-critical work
Prioritize a trustworthy signal path, calibration, panel uniformity, viewing environment, gamut, bit depth, and the required HDR behavior. Refresh rate is secondary. Read the site's guides to monitor color accuracy and display calibration before choosing a faster but less predictable panel.
How to change refresh rate on a Mac
On a supported Mac and display, open System Settings > Displays, select the display, and choose an available refresh rate. Apple lists fixed professional-workflow rates including 47.95Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 59.94Hz, and 60Hz on compatible products, plus adaptive refresh up to 120Hz on supported devices.
Apple recommends selecting a mode that divides evenly into the video's frame rate. Return to the normal adaptive or default mode after the review if that is more comfortable for general desktop use. If a desired mode is missing, verify the Mac model, display specifications, cable, direct connection or dock, resolution, and HDR setting.
What matters more than refresh rate?
- Color accuracy and calibration: the display should reproduce the delivery color space predictably.
- Panel uniformity: brightness or color shifts across the screen can mislead grading decisions.
- Resolution and scaling: the interface, scopes, and image need enough useful space at a comfortable text size.
- Connectivity: the computer, dock, cable, and input must support the intended resolution, rate, bit depth, and HDR mode.
- Playback performance: Adobe notes that playback resolution and High Quality Playback affect performance and can contribute to dropped frames. The display's refresh rate cannot solve a decode or render bottleneck.
- Ergonomics: size, distance, height, glare control, and room lighting matter during long sessions.
For the broader decision, use the video-editing monitor buying guide and the monitor resource hub.
Refresh-rate buying checklist
- List the frame rates you actually edit and deliver.
- Choose the resolution and screen size needed for your workspace.
- Set minimum color-space, calibration, and uniformity requirements.
- Confirm the computer and port support the complete target signal mode.
- Check whether the monitor exposes 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 100Hz, or 120Hz modes needed by the workflow.
- Verify that HDR and high refresh can operate together if both are required.
- Choose 120Hz for smoother interaction when it does not weaken the higher-priority requirements.
- Test real footage, timeline scrubbing, dropped-frame behavior, scaling, and sleep/wake reliability during the return period.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60Hz enough for video editing?
Yes. A good 60Hz monitor remains sufficient for most 24, 25, and 30 fps editing, especially when color accuracy, panel uniformity, resolution, and connectivity are the higher priorities. It can also display 60 fps material, although a 120Hz desktop often feels smoother.
Is 120Hz better than 60Hz for video editing?
120Hz makes scrolling, cursor movement, animation, and timeline scrubbing feel smoother. It is also evenly divisible by common 24, 30, and 60 fps frame rates. That makes it a useful quality-of-life upgrade, but it does not improve color accuracy or fix slow decoding.
Do I need 144Hz for video editing?
Usually not. A 144Hz monitor can feel very fluid and may be attractive for a combined editing and gaming workstation, but 120Hz is a cleaner multiple for common 24, 30, and 60 fps video. Choose 144Hz only after the display meets your color, resolution, port, and budget requirements.
What refresh rate should I use for 24 fps video?
Use a refresh rate that is evenly divisible by 24 when your display offers it. Apple gives 48Hz as a direct example. A 120Hz mode also divides evenly by 24 and lets each video frame remain on screen for five display refreshes.
Does refresh rate affect color accuracy?
Not directly. Refresh rate controls how often the display updates. Color accuracy depends on the panel, gamut, calibration, uniformity, viewing conditions, and the signal path. Evaluate both sets of specifications.
Will a high-refresh monitor stop dropped frames?
No. Dropped frames can come from the codec, storage, effects, render settings, playback resolution, GPU, or CPU. Adobe notes that playback quality settings trade image quality against performance. Diagnose the editing system before blaming the monitor.
Can a Mac run a 4K monitor at 120Hz?
Some Macs, ports, cables, and displays can, but support varies by model and connection. Check the Mac's official display specifications and the monitor manual at the exact resolution, refresh rate, bit depth, and HDR mode you plan to use.
Should I prioritize refresh rate or resolution?
For most video editors, start with color accuracy and the resolution needed for the interface and footage, then choose the highest useful refresh rate within budget. A well-calibrated 4K 60Hz creative display can be a better editing tool than a fast gaming panel with weak color.
Official sources
- Apple Support: Change the refresh rate on your MacBook Pro or Apple display
- Adobe Help: Set display quality for Source and Program Monitors
- Adobe Help: Enable High Quality Playback in Premiere Pro
About the Author
Joseph Nilo has been working professionally in all aspects of audio and video production for over twenty years. His day-to-day work finds him working as a video editor, 2D and 3D motion graphics designer, voiceover artist and audio engineer, and colorist for corporate projects and feature films.