Definition
First Contentful Paint (FCP) measures the time between when a user accesses a page and when the first content element is rendered visible on screen. This content can be text, an image, a canvas, or an SVG. FCP is an important indicator of perceived speed because it marks the first sign that the page is loading. Google recommends an FCP under 1.8 seconds. A slow FCP is often caused by blocking fonts, unoptimized CSS, high TTFB, or multiple redirects. FCP is distinct from LCP: FCP marks the start of display, LCP marks the display of the main element.
Key Points
- First visible sign of page loading for the user
- Recommended threshold: under 1.8 seconds (good), over 3 seconds (poor)
- Different from LCP: FCP = first content displayed, LCP = largest element displayed
Practical Examples
Blocking font
A site using Google Fonts without font-display:swap shows an FCP of 3.2s due to waiting for font download. Adding font-display:swap reduces FCP to 1.1s.
Redirect impact
A chain of 3 redirects (HTTP > HTTPS > www > /en/) adds 1.5s to FCP. Reducing to a single redirect improves FCP from 4.1s to 2.6s.
Frequently Asked Questions
FCP measures the appearance of the first visible content (often text or an icon), while LCP measures the appearance of the largest visible element (often a hero image or main text block). FCP always occurs before or at the same time as LCP.
Optimize server TTFB, eliminate blocking CSS and JavaScript, use font-display:swap for fonts, preload critical resources, and reduce unnecessary redirects.
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Last updated: 2026-02-07