How to run the polling rate test
- Put the pointer in the box and move the mouse quickly in big circles for 3 to 5 seconds. Fast, continuous movement matters: a mouse only reports when it moves.
- Read the peak. It shows the fastest rate the browser received. Nearest setting rounds it to the closest standard rate, such as 1000 Hz.
- Check steadiness. It shows how many reports arrived on a regular beat. A wired mouse on a good port should score high. Low steadiness points to wireless interference, a busy USB hub or power saving.
- Change something and compare. Use it as a polling rate checker after every change: press Reset after switching the setting in your mouse software, moving the receiver or plugging into another port.
What is polling rate?
The polling rate is how many times per second your mouse tells the computer where it is. A higher rate means a shorter wait between position updates:
| Polling rate | Time between reports | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Office mice, default USB rate |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Older gaming mice, wireless power saving |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | Most gaming mice |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | High-end wired and wireless gaming mice |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | Top-end models, needs a fast PC |
Above 1000 Hz the gain is a fraction of a millisecond, while CPU load and wireless battery use go up. Some games stutter at 4000 or 8000 Hz. If yours does, drop to 1000 or 2000 Hz.
Why the reading is lower than your setting
- Slow movement. Move faster. A mouse at rest sends nothing, and gentle movement can send fewer reports.
- Your browser. Chrome and Edge pass raw pointer updates to the page, so this mouse Hz test gets the most accurate reading there. Other browsers may only report once per screen frame, so the result sticks near 60, 120 or 144 Hz.
- Wireless. Power-saving modes lower the rate, and a receiver far from the mouse or behind the PC case loses reports. Use the extension adapter that came with the mouse.
- USB port. Hubs, keyboard pass-through ports and some front-panel ports can cap or disturb high rates. Try a port on the back of the PC.
- The setting didn't stick. Some mice store it per profile. Check that the active profile uses the rate you chose.
Polling rate vs a mouse latency test
People often look for a mouse latency test or a mouse delay test when they feel lag. The polling rate is one part of that delay: at 1000 Hz the computer waits at most 1 ms for the next report. Total delay also includes the sensor, the game engine and the display, and measuring all of it needs special hardware or a high-speed camera. If the mouse feels slow but this test shows a normal rate, look at the game's frame rate and the monitor next. The refresh rate test checks the screen side.
For the buttons, double clicks and scroll wheel, use the Mouse Test. To measure sensitivity, use the Mouse DPI Test.
How we tested this tool
We checked the calculation by feeding the tool timestamp sequences shaped like real mice, with the browser's 0.1 ms timestamp rounding and random timing jitter: 125, 1000, 4000 and 8000 Hz sequences read 125, 1000, 4000 and 8000 Hz on average, and an unsteady 500 Hz sequence read 499 Hz with 66% steadiness. Two bursts of movement with a pause between them still averaged 1000 Hz, so pauses don't drag the result down. We also confirmed in Google Chrome on Windows that the page uses raw pointer updates and counts every event, and checked the layout at a 375 px phone width. We haven't yet logged results from specific mouse models. If you test yours, tell us what you found.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my 1000 Hz mouse show less than 1000 Hz?
A mouse only sends a report when it has moved, so slow movement gives lower readings. Move it fast in circles. Wireless power saving, USB hubs and front-panel ports can also lower it, and some browsers only report movement once per screen frame. Use Chrome or Edge for the most accurate reading.
Is a higher polling rate always better?
Not always. Going from 125 to 1000 Hz cuts the gap between reports from 8 ms to 1 ms, which you can feel in fast games. Above that the gain is a fraction of a millisecond, while CPU load and wireless battery use go up, and some games stutter at 4000 or 8000 Hz.
How do I change my mouse polling rate?
Use your mouse's own software, for example Logitech G HUB or Razer Synapse, or a small button or switch on the bottom of some mice. Then run this polling rate test again to confirm the new setting.
Is this a mouse latency test?
Not a full one. The polling rate only sets how long the computer may wait for the next report. Total delay also includes the sensor, the game and the display, and measuring that needs special hardware or a high-speed camera.
Does the reading depend on my browser?
Yes. Chrome and Edge pass raw pointer updates to the page, which gives the most accurate reading. Other browsers may group movement per screen frame or round timestamps more coarsely, which caps the reading. The page shows which method your browser is using.