Mouse Polling Rate Test
Run a quick test to measure your mouse's real polling rate in hertz. Press Start, move your mouse in fast circles, then Stop — you'll get your peak and average rate, logged so you can repeat it and check consistency. Want a live, always-on meter instead? Try the live Mouse Polling Rate Tester.
Press Start, then move your mouse in this box
Recent measurements
last 0Run a test to log a result here — repeat a few times to check consistency.
How the test works
Browsers normally collapse mouse movement into one event per frame, so naively counting events would just measure your refresh rate. This test reads getCoalescedEvents() to recover every raw sample your mouse sent between frames, then counts them over a short window to get the rate in hertz. Because a mouse only reports while moving, keep the cursor moving for the whole test, and run it a few times — the peak across consistent runs is your best estimate.
Polling rate reference
| Rate | Interval | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Standard office mice |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Entry-level gaming mice |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | The competitive-gaming standard |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms | High-end gaming mice |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | Premium wired / fast wireless |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | Top-tier esports mice |
For an accurate result
- Move continuously in fast, wide circles — short or slow movements undersample.
- Run the test several times and compare the recent measurements for consistency.
- Use a Chromium browser (Chrome, Edge) for the most accurate raw-sample reading.
- Use a wired connection or a high-speed dongle, and close other demanding apps.
Check the rest of your setup
Polling rate is only one piece of responsiveness. Measure end-to-end delay with the Input Lag Tester, confirm your display speed with the Refresh Rate Tester, check every button works with the Mouse Tester, or measure your true sensitivity with the Mouse DPI Analyzer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my mouse polling rate?
Press Start, move your mouse around the box in fast, wide circles for a few seconds, then press Stop. The tool reads the raw movement reports your mouse sends and works out how many it delivers per second, in hertz. Your peak figure is the best estimate of your mouse's capability, since a mouse only reports while it's moving and slow movement undersamples. Run the test a few times and check the recent measurements list — consistent results mean a reliable reading.
What is mouse polling rate?
Polling rate is how often your mouse tells the computer where it is, measured in hertz. A 1000 Hz mouse sends a position update 1000 times a second — once every millisecond — while a 125 Hz mouse reports every 8 milliseconds. A higher rate delivers fresher information more often, which makes cursor motion feel smoother and trims a little input latency, especially noticeable when paired with a high-refresh-rate monitor.
What polling rate should I use for gaming?
For competitive play, 1000 Hz has long been the sweet spot — a clear, easy upgrade over 125 or 500 Hz that almost anyone can feel. The newer 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz mice cut latency further, but the gains shrink quickly and you only really benefit with a very high refresh-rate monitor and a CPU that can handle the extra load. Casual players are well served by 500 Hz, while 1000 Hz remains the safe choice for most gamers.
Why is my measured rate lower than my mouse's rating?
A few things pull the number down. Browsers bundle mouse updates per frame, so the test relies on the getCoalescedEvents API to recover the raw samples — most accurate in Chromium browsers like Chrome and Edge. On top of that, CPU load, background apps, and slow or short movements all cause undersampling, so a 1000 Hz mouse may read a bit under 1000. Treat the result as a floor, move continuously in big circles, and watch the peak for the most representative figure.
Does a higher polling rate use more battery or CPU?
Yes to both. Each report is a little work for your CPU to process, so 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz noticeably raise CPU usage and can even cause frame drops on weaker systems. On wireless mice, more frequent reporting also drains the battery faster. That's why many mice default to 1000 Hz and reserve the highest rates for wired use or a high-speed dongle — it's a balance between latency, system load, and battery life.
Is polling rate the same as DPI?
No — they're separate and often confused. DPI (dots per inch) is sensitivity: how far the cursor travels for a given physical movement. Polling rate is how often the mouse reports, regardless of how far it moved. An 800 DPI mouse stays 800 DPI whether it polls at 125 Hz or 1000 Hz. DPI changes the distance; polling rate changes the frequency of updates.