Mouse Polling Rate Test
A 1000 Hz mouse reports its position every 1 ms. A 125 Hz mouse reports every 8 ms. Browsers can cap what this test sees.
How to use
- Move the pointer inside the box in fast circles for 3 to 5 seconds. Keep moving; stopping does not add samples.
- The big number is the live rate. The rows show the average, the maximum, the number of samples and the closest standard rate.
- Wait for 100 samples or more before trusting the nearest standard rate.
- Press Reset and test again after changing the rate in your mouse software.
How it works
The tool records the time stamp of every pointer event the browser reports. Where the browser supports it, it reads raw pointer updates or the coalesced events inside each frame, which keeps the individual device reports.
Hz = 1000 / mean gap in ms between events. Pauses longer than 40 ms are dropped. The maximum is the highest rate found inside any 100 ms window with at least 5 events.
The nearest standard rate is picked from 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz when the average is within about 30 percent of one of them.
What polling rate is
Polling rate is how many times per second the mouse reports its position to the computer. At 125 Hz that is every 8 ms, at 1000 Hz every 1 ms. A higher rate makes the cursor path smoother and the delay shorter, up to the point where the screen and the game can no longer use the extra reports.
| Rate | Report every | Where it is common |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Basic and older office mice |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Mid-range mice |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | Gaming mice default |
| 4000 to 8000 Hz | 0.25 to 0.125 ms | High-end gaming mice, needs a strong PC |
Browser limits, please read
- A browser is not a measuring instrument. Chrome can read raw pointer updates and gives the best estimates. Other browsers may deliver events only once per frame, which caps the result near the screen refresh rate such as 60 or 144 Hz.
- If your result is close to your monitor refresh rate and far below the rate you set, the browser is the limit, not the mouse.
- High rates such as 4000 and 8000 Hz can read lower here because of system load and event merging.
- Wireless dongles, USB hubs and power-saving modes can also lower the real rate.
Setting and checking the rate
- Change the rate in the mouse maker's software, then reset this page and test again.
- Use a direct USB port on the PC and avoid hubs while testing.
- Test with the mouse moving fast, since some mice report less often when the sensor is idle.
FAQ
Is the result accurate?
It is an estimate. A browser can show a result close to the real rate in the best case, but it can also be capped by the screen refresh rate. Treat it as a quick check, not a lab measurement.
Why is my 1000 Hz mouse shown as 60 or 144 Hz?
Your browser probably aligns pointer events to screen frames. Try Chrome or Edge, which can report raw pointer updates.
Does it work with touch?
It then measures the sampling rate of the touch screen, which is usually between 60 and 240 Hz.
Is my polling rate worth raising?
For desktop work 500 to 1000 Hz is plenty. Higher rates help in fast shooters on a strong PC and a high refresh display.