How to benchmark a SQL Server Query?

Question

I\'d like to know the standard way to benchmark a SQL Sever Query, preferably I\'d like to know about the tools that come with SQL Server rather than 3rd Party tools.

Answer 1

+1 on the execution plan. From here you can see where all the time is being spent in your particular query. Eg. 85% of the time is spent table scanning a particular table, can you put an index on that table to improve it? etc etc.