Latency Test | Measure Your Controller Input Lag Online
Run a ten second sample while moving sticks and pressing buttons to measure the real interval between your input and the browser registering it, reported in milliseconds. Works with PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and generic USB or Bluetooth controllers.
Move both sticks in continuous circles and tap buttons throughout the sample window. More varied input produces a more accurate measurement.
Continuous varied input during the sample window produces the most reliable reading.
Connect
Plug in over USB or pair over Bluetooth, then press any button.
Start the sample
Click start, the test immediately begins timing input changes with high precision.
Keep moving
Move both sticks in circles and tap buttons for the full ten seconds.
Read the results
Check the average, and compare against the verdict table below.
Compare your average latency to the ranges below, reflecting typical performance across wired and wireless controllers.
| Average latency | Verdict | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5ms | Excellent | Tournament grade response, equivalent to wired competitive controllers. |
| 5 to 10ms | Good | Typical for wired controllers and high quality wireless, imperceptible in normal play. |
| 10 to 20ms | Acceptable | Normal Bluetooth range, fine for most games, competitive players may notice. |
| 20 to 40ms | Degraded | Detectable lag, check for interference, low battery, or distance from the receiver. |
| Over 40ms | Problematic | Significant lag, try a wired connection or check for a controller issue. |
This test measures polling latency, the interval between consecutive input changes as your browser observes them. That covers time spent in your operating system's driver layer, the Gamepad API, and the browser's own event loop, which is the part of the latency chain a website can actually see and time.
It does not include the wireless transmission time between a controller and its receiver, which typically adds one to four milliseconds on modern wireless protocols and is not something a browser can measure directly. Your true end to end latency, thumb to screen, also includes display response time and game engine processing, both entirely outside what any website based test can capture.
None of this makes polling latency a less useful number, it is the exact figure that determines how quickly your inputs reach the software layer, and it is the number most directly affected by your choice of wired versus wireless and by interference on your connection.
Both connection types work with this test, but they behave differently.
Wired USB
Consistently the lowest and most stable latency, commonly polling at up to 1000Hz with no wireless transmission overhead. This is the connection to use if you want the cleanest possible measurement or the most competitive response time.
Bluetooth and proprietary wireless
Bluetooth typically polls around 125Hz with more variance from radio scheduling and interference. Proprietary 2.4GHz dongles, such as Xbox's wireless adapter, usually sit closer to wired performance than standard Bluetooth does.
This test works with any controller your browser recognizes as a standard gamepad, wired, Bluetooth, or proprietary wireless, including these commonly tested models.
See full specifications for these and more on the Devices page.
Input lag or delayed response
A noticeable delay between pressing a button and seeing it register during play.
Browse the Fix guidesController keeps disconnecting
Interruptions or drops during play can spike latency readings dramatically.
Read the fixCheck polling rate directly
Latency and polling rate are related but different, check your raw polling frequency too.
Run the Polling Rate TestRun the full controller benchmark
Latency is one part of a complete health check. Run every diagnostic in sequence and get one overall score for your controller.
Run the benchmarkWhat is controller latency
Controller latency is the time between a physical button press or stick movement and that input registering in software, measured in milliseconds. Lower latency means more responsive gameplay, which matters most in competitive shooters, fighting games, and rhythm games.
What does this test actually measure
This test measures the polling interval between consecutive input changes as observed by the browser, covering the operating system driver, the Gamepad API, and the browser's own event loop. It does not include wireless transmission time from the controller to a receiver, which typically adds one to four milliseconds on modern wireless protocols.
What is a good controller latency
Under 5 milliseconds is excellent, tournament grade response equivalent to wired competitive controllers. 5 to 10 milliseconds is good and typical for wired or high quality wireless. 10 to 20 milliseconds is acceptable and normal for Bluetooth. Above 20 milliseconds usually points to interference, low battery, or driver issues.
Why is my controller latency so high
The most common causes are Bluetooth interference from other wireless devices on the same frequency band, low battery triggering a power saving mode, distance from the wireless receiver, outdated drivers, and CPU load on the host device. Switching to a wired USB connection removes most wireless related latency.
Is wired or wireless better for latency
Wired connections consistently produce lower and more stable latency than wireless. A wired controller commonly polls at up to 1000Hz with no transmission overhead, while Bluetooth typically polls around 125Hz with more variance. Proprietary 2.4GHz wireless dongles usually sit between the two.
How precise is this latency measurement
This tool uses the browser's high resolution timer, which offers sub millisecond precision under normal conditions, though some browsers clamp precision slightly for security reasons. Sampling continuously for ten seconds across many input changes averages out single frame noise and produces a reliable result.
Does this test work on Bluetooth controllers
Yes. The test works the same way on wired and Bluetooth controllers. For the most reliable Bluetooth reading, stay close to the receiver and avoid other 2.4GHz devices actively transmitting nearby, then run the test a few times to check consistency.
Can high latency damage my controller
No. High latency reflects communication overhead, not hardware stress, so it will not damage a controller on its own. Persistently high latency can, however, be a sign of a weak battery, a worn cable, or wireless interference worth addressing.
Can I test a PS5 DualSense controller's latency here
Yes. The DualSense can be tested over both USB and Bluetooth, and both connection types are read the same way by this tool.
Can I test an Xbox controller's latency here
Yes. Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and Xbox Elite controllers can all be tested over USB, Bluetooth, or a proprietary wireless receiver.
Does this work with a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Yes, when the controller is connected and recognized as a standard gamepad by your browser.
Do I need to install anything to test latency
No. This tool runs entirely in your browser using the Gamepad API. There is nothing to download and no account to create.
How long does the latency test take
The sampling window runs for ten seconds. Moving both sticks and pressing buttons continuously during that window produces the most accurate result.
Does this work on mobile phones
Yes, on any mobile browser that supports the Gamepad API and a controller paired over Bluetooth or connected through a USB adapter, though results can vary more on mobile hardware.
Is my input timing data stored anywhere
No. Every reading happens locally in your browser and is not sent to a server unless you choose to export a report yourself.