Skeleton Screens vs Spinners: Perceived Load Time

📰 Dev.to · Ashish Kumar

Learn how skeleton screens and spinners impact perceived load time and when to use them for better user experience

intermediate Published 10 May 2026

Action Steps

Read LinkedIn's research on skeleton screens
Compare the effectiveness of skeleton screens and spinners in reducing perceived load time
Apply skeleton screens to areas with predictable loading times
Test the impact of spinners on user experience in areas with variable loading times
Configure loading animations to balance perceived performance and actual load time

Who Needs to Know This

UI/UX designers and frontend developers can benefit from understanding the difference between skeleton screens and spinners to improve user experience and perceived performance

Key Insight

💡 Skeleton screens can improve perceived load time when loading times are predictable, but may hurt when loading times are variable

Key Takeaways

Learn how skeleton screens and spinners impact perceived load time and when to use them for better user experience

Full Article

Perceived and measured performance diverge more than most developers expect. LinkedIn's skeleton screen research explains why, and when skeletons hurt.

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