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HDMI has no single maximum FPS. The limit depends on the HDMI specification, resolution, color depth, chroma format, compression, cable, source device, and display. As of August 2026, the latest HDMI specification is HDMI 2.2, which supports up to 4K at 240 Hz and, in specified configurations, up to 12K at 120 Hz. For mainstream gaming hardware, HDMI 2.1 remains most commonly associated with 4K at 120 Hz.
FPS, refresh rate, and HDMI bandwidth are different
FPS is the number of frames rendered by a game or video source. Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times a display can refresh each second. HDMI is the connection that transports the video signal between the source and the display.
A graphics card may render 240 FPS, but a 120-Hz HDMI connection and display can show only up to 120 refreshes per second. Conversely, a 240-Hz monitor does not guarantee 240 FPS if the game, GPU, or console cannot render that quickly.
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Source output → HDMI port → cable → receiver/switch/dock → display input → panel refresh rate → software and game performance
Resolution, color depth, chroma format, HDR, and compression also affect the maximum mode. In simple terms, required video data rises roughly with:
Pixels per frame × frames per second × bits per pixel + transport overhead
That is why 1080p at 240 Hz can be easier to carry than 4K at 120 Hz, while 4K at 240 Hz requires substantially more bandwidth.
Maximum refresh rates by HDMI version
| HDMI generation | Bandwidth or signaling | Commonly cited modes | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4b | Earlier TMDS generation | 1080p120; 4K at 24, 25, or 30 Hz | Its official 4K modes are primarily 24–30 Hz, not 4K120. |
| HDMI 2.0 | 18 Gbps | 4K60 | Higher refresh rates at lower resolutions may work, depending on the device and signal format. |
| HDMI 2.1/2.1b | Up to 48 Gbps with FRL | 4K120; 8K60 | “HDMI 2.1” does not guarantee that every product implements the full bandwidth or every feature. |
| HDMI 2.2 | Up to 96 Gbps with next-generation FRL | 4K240; 8K60 full chroma; up to 12K120 and 16K60 in supported configurations | These are specification capabilities. Each source, display, cable, and intermediary must support the required mode. |
See the official HDMI 1.4b specification, HDMI’s specification history, the HDMI 2.1b specification, and the HDMI 2.2 bandwidth overview for the published capabilities.
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HDMI 1.4: up to 1080p at 120 Hz
HDMI 1.4b officially lists 1920×1080 at 120 Hz. It also lists 3840×2160 at 24, 25, and 30 Hz, plus 4096×2160 at 24 Hz.
Therefore, the useful practical answer is:
- 1080p120: supported in the relevant HDMI 1.4b mode.
- 4K24/25/30: supported in the official listed modes.
- 4K120: not a normal HDMI 1.4 capability.
Do not treat “HDMI 1.4 equals exactly 120 FPS” as a universal rule. Lower resolutions, reduced color formats, display timings, and manufacturer-specific implementations can produce other modes.
HDMI 2.0: commonly 4K at 60 Hz
HDMI 2.0 increased the link bandwidth to 18 Gbps and is commonly associated with 3840×2160 at 60 Hz.
| Target | Typical HDMI 2.0 expectation |
|---|---|
| 1080p60 | Usually straightforward |
| 1080p120 | Often possible, depending on the source and display |
| 1440p144 | Device- and timing-dependent |
| 4K60 | The familiar headline capability |
| 4K120 | Generally outside normal uncompressed HDMI 2.0 capability |
4K60 does not automatically mean 10-bit RGB or full 4:4:4 chroma. The available combination depends on the timing, color depth, chroma format, HDR settings, and the specific source and display. HDMI 2.0 may support higher refresh rates at lower resolutions, but the version number alone does not guarantee 1440p144 or 1080p240.
HDMI 2.1: generally 4K at 120 Hz
HDMI 2.1 introduced Fixed Rate Link (FRL) signaling and supports up to 48 Gbps. Its headline display modes are 4K at 120 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz. It also introduced or expanded gaming features such as variable refresh rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Quick Frame Transport (QFT).
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For current mainstream gaming, HDMI 2.1 is usually the standard to look for when the goal is 4K120. NVIDIA similarly describes HDMI 2.1-equipped GeForce RTX 30- and 40-series GPUs as supporting 4K120 and 8K60 gaming, subject to the particular GPU and display implementation; see its HDMI 2.1 overview.
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However, the label HDMI 2.1 is not enough to establish the actual capability of a product. Check whether the manufacturer explicitly states:
- 4K120 or 8K60 support;
- the port’s bandwidth, such as 40 or 48 Gbps;
- FRL support;
- VRR range and compatibility;
- maximum color depth and chroma format;
- DSC support and whether the advertised mode requires it.
Some HDMI 2.1 implementations can reach 4K240 using Display Stream Compression (DSC), reduced chroma, or specific color settings. NVIDIA’s product documentation lists 4K240 HDR capability for particular GPU implementations, but that is not a universal property of every HDMI 2.1 port. Its graphics-card comparison page identifies configurations that use DSC.
HDMI 2.2: the current specification maximum
HDMI 2.2 raises the maximum link bandwidth to 96 Gbps. HDMI’s published material lists the following capabilities in supported configurations:
- 4K at 240 Hz, including full 4:4:4 chroma at specified 10-bit and 12-bit modes;
- 8K at 60 Hz with full-chroma formats;
- up to 12K at 120 Hz;
- up to 16K at 60 Hz.
These figures describe the HDMI 2.2 specification, not a promise that every HDMI 2.2 product will implement every resolution, refresh rate, color format, or compression option. The source, display, firmware, cable, and any device between them must all support the selected mode.
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HDMI 2.2 can use FRL for higher-throughput signals and supports VESA DSC 1.2a visually lossless compression. A quoted mode may therefore be compressed rather than uncompressed. “Visually lossless” describes the intended visual result; it does not mean that no compression is being used.
The HDMI 2.2 specification overview and official HDMI 2.2 overview PDF provide the relevant specifications.
Can HDMI support 240 Hz?
Yes, but the resolution and signal conditions matter.
- 4K240: clearly specified for HDMI 2.2 in appropriate configurations.
- HDMI 2.1 and 4K240: possible on some source-and-display combinations using DSC or reduced color formats, but not universal.
- HDMI 2.0 and 240 Hz: possible at lower resolutions on some products, but not a universal HDMI 2.0 headline mode.
A 240-Hz monitor may provide its full refresh rate through DisplayPort while limiting HDMI to 120 or 144 Hz. Always check the monitor’s input table rather than relying on the panel’s advertised refresh rate.
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There is no single refresh-rate ceiling that applies independently of resolution and signal format. A particular HDMI implementation may support 1080p360, 1440p360, or another high-refresh mode, but support depends on the exact source, display timing, firmware, bandwidth, color settings, and manufacturer limits.
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Do not infer 360-Hz support from an HDMI version number. Look for the exact monitor and GPU specifications, such as “1440p at 360 Hz over HDMI.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What cable do you need?
| Cable category | Typical use |
|---|---|
| High Speed HDMI | Older HDMI 1.4-era modes, including common 4K24/25/30 use |
| Ultra High Speed HDMI | HDMI 2.1-class applications requiring up to 48 Gbps, including 4K120-class use |
| Ultra96 HDMI | HDMI 2.2’s highest-bandwidth modes, up to 96 Gbps |
Use a certified cable appropriate to the target bandwidth. Vague labels such as “8K cable,” “240-Hz cable,” or “gaming HDMI” do not prove that the cable is certified for your exact mode. A cable can be the bottleneck, but replacing it cannot overcome a display input or source port that is limited to 4K60 or 4K120.
Long or poorly constructed cables can cause black screens, flicker, sparkles, dropouts, failed handshakes, or disappearing HDR and high-refresh options. If problems occur, use a certified cable and shorten the run where practical.
Quick recommendations by target mode
| Goal | Usually needed | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p120 | HDMI 1.4 or newer in a supported implementation | Verify both source and display specifications. |
| 1440p144 | HDMI 2.0 or newer is commonly relevant | Not guaranteed by the version number; timing and color mode matter. |
| 4K60 | HDMI 2.0 or newer | HDR, 10-bit color, and 4:4:4 may change the requirement. |
| 4K120 | HDMI 2.1-class source and display plus an Ultra High Speed cable | Every component in the signal path must support it. |
| 4K144 | HDMI 2.1-class hardware | May require particular color or compression settings. |
| 4K240 | HDMI 2.2 for the clearest full-bandwidth path | Some HDMI 2.1 implementations may reach it with DSC or reduced formats. |
| 8K60 | HDMI 2.1-class or newer hardware and an appropriate cable | Color format, HDR, and compression affect feasibility. |
| 12K120 | HDMI 2.2-class equipment and Ultra96 cabling | A specification capability, not a guarantee of consumer-product support. |
Why a monitor may be stuck at 60 Hz
- Check the monitor manual for the maximum refresh rate of the specific HDMI input. A display may support its highest refresh rate only through DisplayPort or only through one HDMI input.
- Check the GPU, console, laptop, dock, or receiver’s output specification.
- Connect the source directly to the display, bypassing a receiver, switch, soundbar, splitter, capture device, or dock.
- Use the certified cable category required for the target mode.
- In the operating system’s display settings, select the intended refresh rate. The exact labels differ between Windows, macOS, Linux, TVs, and consoles.
- In the GPU control panel, select the native PC resolution rather than a lower-bandwidth TV timing where applicable.
- If HDR or 10-bit color makes the mode disappear, temporarily disable HDR or test a different color format to identify the bandwidth constraint.
- Update the graphics driver and display firmware when the manufacturer provides updates.
- If the option is still unavailable, the limit is probably the display input, source output, intermediary device, cable, or supported color/compression combination—not the game’s FPS setting.
If 4K120 works but 4K240 does not
The likely explanations are:
- The monitor’s HDMI input is limited to 4K120.
- The GPU or console has HDMI 2.1 rather than HDMI 2.2.
- The display requires DSC, but the source or signal path does not support it.
- The selected 10-/12-bit, HDR, or 4:4:4 format exceeds available bandwidth.
- An AV receiver, switch, KVM, dock, or capture device is limited to 4K120 or HDMI 2.0.
- The cable is not certified for the required bandwidth or the cable run has signal-integrity problems.
- The monitor exposes 4K240 only through DisplayPort.
What to check before buying
Do not buy solely on an HDMI version label. Find the manufacturer’s exact specification for the complete target mode:
- maximum resolution and refresh rate for each HDMI input;
- actual HDMI bandwidth;
- TMDS or FRL support;
- RGB, 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 support;
- maximum color depth at the desired refresh rate;
- HDR and VRR compatibility;
- DSC support and whether the stated mode requires compression;
- limitations on individual ports, receivers, switches, docks, or adapters.
This matters especially with TVs, which may have only one or two full-bandwidth HDMI inputs; gaming monitors, whose highest refresh rate may be DisplayPort-only; and laptops, where an HDMI output or USB-C dock can impose a lower limit than the internal GPU.
Final answer
There is no universal maximum FPS for HDMI. HDMI 1.4 commonly reaches 1080p120, HDMI 2.0 commonly reaches 4K60, and HDMI 2.1 commonly reaches 4K120 and 8K60. The current HDMI 2.2 specification extends the ceiling to 4K240 and, in specified configurations, up to 12K120 or 16K60.
For a real setup, the maximum is the lowest supported mode across the source, HDMI port, certified cable, intermediary equipment, display input, panel, color settings, compression support, and software.
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