What is PLS distribution
PLS distribution down your number of pageviews into 0.5s intervals along the Perceived Load Speed (PLS) timeline. It’s a clear way to understand how fast your site feels to users across different loading scenarios — whether most experiences are perceived as fast, tolerable, or frustrating.
PLS is a proprietary Uxify metric designed to reflect when the page looks and feels loaded to the user — not just when one element finishes rendering, but when all meaningful visual elements appear ready.
Healthy PLS distribution sample
Should you worry
A healthy PLS distribution typically slopes downward — with fewer pageviews as perceived load speed increases. That’s what you want to see: most users experiencing quick, seamless loads. If you notice a bar that’s taller than the one before it, it could signal a segment of users who feel the page is lagging. That’s a red flag worth investigating.
Also, keep an eye on the P75 (75th percentile) marker. If it lands outside of the green (fast) zone, your page might not feel as fast as it could to a meaningful portion of your users. The further left the P75 sits in the green, the more delightful your site feels.
Unhealthy PLS distribution sample
An unhealthy PLS distribution often shows a buildup of pageviews in the slower intervals — particularly beyond the 1.5s mark. This pattern signals that a growing portion of users perceive the page as slow to load, even if it's technically functional. When visual completeness is delayed, users hesitate to engage, scroll, or interact.
These slower perceived load times typically point to heavier layouts, delayed image rendering, or inconsistent performance across devices and network conditions. Addressing the underlying causes can significantly improve how fast your site feels — and lead to more engaged sessions.
Resolving unhealthy PLS distribution
Go-to action plan to resolve an unhealthy PLS distribution:
Ask Uxi to analyze your PLS distribution and suggest improvements.
Use Filters to isolate slow PLS intervals, then investigate across other lenses like device, layout, or network conditions to find correlated slowdowns.
Simulate LCP of the suspected lens to see if fixing it will resolve the PLS distribution. If yes, this is where the resolution focus should be.
Use an automated optimization tool like Navigation AI to improve your PLS distribution.
Once you’ve improved PLS, set an alert to be the first to know if it starts worsening again.
Try it yourself
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