Frametime is the duration, measured in milliseconds, between consecutive frames rendered on your screen during gameplay. It is the inverse of frame rate: if a game runs at 60 frames per second, the average frametime is roughly 16.7 milliseconds (1000 ÷ 60).
Why frametime matters more than you might think: a game locked at 60 fps with consistent frametimes feels much smoother than one that jumps between 50 and 70 fps. When frametimes are uneven, your eyes notice stutters and hitches even if the average frame rate looks respectable on paper. This inconsistency is called "frame pacing" or "frame time variance."
Real-world example: imagine a racing game at 60 fps average. If most frames take 16.7 ms but one frame takes 33 ms (a hitch), you'll see a visible stutter as the game pauses momentarily. The same game with perfectly consistent 16.7 ms frametimes feels fluid throughout.
What to look for when buying: gaming monitors and graphics cards now advertise features like variable refresh rate (G-Sync, FreeSync) specifically to smooth out frametime inconsistencies. Reviewers often plot frametime graphs rather than just reporting average frame rates, because those graphs reveal stuttering that fps numbers hide.
For a smooth experience, aim for low, steady frametimes rather than chasing the highest average frame count. A 1440p card delivering consistent 60 fps will feel more responsive than one that averages 100 fps but stutters unpredictably.