Polling Rate Test | Check Your Mouse and Controller Hz Now
Move your mouse or a connected controller and see the real reporting rate in Hertz, averaged live from actual timed input events. Works as a polling rate test, polling rate tester, or a dedicated mouse polling rate test.
Continuous movement for a few seconds gives the most reliable average.
Choose a mode
Pick mouse for your pointer device, or controller to test a connected gamepad.
Move continuously
Move your mouse inside the test area, or move a controller stick, for several seconds.
Watch the readout
Current, average, and maximum Hz update live as you move.
Compare the result
Check your average against the reference chart below.
Polling rate in Hz converts directly to a reporting delay in milliseconds, the higher the Hz, the lower the delay.
| Polling rate | Delay per report | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Default USB rate, fine for browsing and office work. |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | A modest step up, noticeable in casual gaming. |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | A common gaming mouse setting with a good balance of smoothness and overhead. |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | The standard target for competitive gaming, minimal reporting delay. |
Polling rate is only about how often your device reports its state, not how far the cursor moves or how the device physically works. A higher polling rate means the gap between two consecutive reports is shorter, which directly reduces the delay between a physical movement and your computer knowing about it.
In fast paced gaming, that shorter delay adds up. Moving from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz cuts the maximum reporting delay from 8 milliseconds down to 1, which is a meaningful difference for aim tracking in a competitive shooter, even though it is imperceptible in everyday tasks like browsing or writing an email.
Polling rate is independent of DPI and sensitivity. DPI determines how far the cursor moves for a given physical distance, sensitivity in game multiplies that further, and polling rate only determines how often the device checks in. A mouse can run high DPI at a low polling rate, or the reverse, they do not affect each other.
Competitive FPS players
Precise, low latency aiming benefits directly from 500 to 1000 Hz, where every millisecond of reporting delay matters.
Fighting game and rhythm players
Frame perfect inputs rely on consistent, fast reporting to avoid dropped or delayed presses.
General browsing and office work
125 Hz is completely sufficient, a higher rate offers no perceptible benefit for typing or scrolling.
Battery conscious wireless users
A lower polling rate can meaningfully extend battery life on a wireless mouse or controller, worth the tradeoff outside competitive play.
Rate reads lower than advertised
Some devices default to a lower rate until changed in manufacturer software, or throttle on low battery.
Browse the Fix guidesResult feels inconsistent
USB hubs, other background devices, or an underpowered port can all interfere with reporting consistency.
Browse the Fix guidesCheck your actual input lag too
Polling rate is one factor in total input delay, run the full latency test for the complete picture.
Run the Latency TestRun the full controller benchmark
Polling rate is one part of overall responsiveness. Run every controller diagnostic in sequence for one overall score.
Run the benchmarkWhat is a polling rate test
A polling rate test, sometimes called a polling rate tester, measures how many times per second an input device reports its state to your computer, expressed in Hertz. A mouse polling rate test specifically measures how often your mouse reports its position while you move it.
What is mouse polling rate
Mouse polling rate is how frequently your mouse sends position data to your computer, measured in Hz. A 1000 Hz polling rate means the mouse reports its position 1000 times per second, once every 1 millisecond.
How does this mouse polling rate test work
Move your mouse continuously inside the test area. Every movement event is timestamped, and the interval between consecutive events is converted into an instantaneous Hz reading, averaged over your session to produce a stable result.
What is a good polling rate
500 to 1000 Hz is considered ideal for gaming, since it minimizes the delay between a physical movement and the computer registering it. For general browsing and office work, 125 Hz is perfectly sufficient.
Is a higher polling rate always better
Not universally. A higher polling rate reduces input delay and produces smoother cursor movement, which matters most in fast paced gaming. It also increases CPU usage slightly, which is why some mice let you choose a lower rate for battery life on wireless setups.
How do I change my mouse polling rate
Most gaming mice let you set polling rate through the manufacturer's software. Some mice also expose a hardware switch or a Windows setting under mouse properties. Check your specific mouse model's software for the exact steps.
Does polling rate affect sensitivity
No. Polling rate and sensitivity are unrelated settings. Sensitivity, tied to DPI, controls how far the cursor moves per physical inch of mouse movement. Polling rate controls how often that movement is reported, not how large it is.
Can I test a controller's polling rate here too
Yes. Switch to controller mode and connect your gamepad. The test measures how often your controller's reported state actually changes while you move a stick, giving an effective update rate for wired and wireless controllers alike.
Why does my wireless mouse show a lower polling rate than advertised
Some wireless mice default to a lower polling rate to save battery, with a higher rate available only in the manufacturer's software or a specific connection mode. Low battery can also cause a wireless mouse to throttle its reporting rate.
Does polling rate use more CPU or battery
Slightly, yes. A higher polling rate means more frequent interrupts for your system to process, which uses marginally more CPU and, on wireless devices, more battery than a lower polling rate.
What is the difference between polling rate and DPI
DPI, dots per inch, determines how far the cursor travels for a given physical mouse movement. Polling rate determines how often that movement is reported to the computer. A mouse can have high DPI and low polling rate, or the reverse, they are independent specifications.
Do I need to install anything to run this polling rate tester
No. This tool runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to download and no account to create.
Does this work on a laptop trackpad
Yes, the mouse mode reads any pointer movement events, including a laptop trackpad, though trackpads typically report at a fixed rate set by the manufacturer rather than a configurable one.
Does this work on mobile phones
Mouse mode requires an actual mouse or trackpad, so it is primarily a desktop test. Controller mode works on any mobile browser that supports the Gamepad API with a paired controller.
Is my movement data stored anywhere
No. Every measurement happens locally in your browser and is not sent to a server unless you choose to export a report yourself.