I use a program called WAMPserver. download and install this program just like any other program. follow the steps in gives, it is very simple. This will set up a folder on your computer (I named 'server') inside this folder there will be one named "www". you can then set up site folders with the files for the site in it.
Run the program and then in your browser go to "http://localhost". This will give a list of all the site folders in the www folder. you will be able to run the php site just like it would on your web server.
This saves a lot of time, so you dont have to keep uploading the site to test the look.
There are some other programs like this, but WAMP is the one I like. I think some others are xamp, and appserv.
Hope this helps.