⚡ POLLING RATE TESTER PRO
Polling rate = events per second (Hz). Higher = smoother response.
📜 TEST HISTORY
Polling Rate Test for Mouse, Keyboard & Controller
Instantly check your mouse, keyboard, or gamepad Hz in your browser. Accurate from 125Hz Bluetooth controllers up to 8000Hz gaming mice. No download, no signup, no tracking.
✓ Up to 8000Hz
✓ Privacy-first
✓ All major brands
A polling rate test measures how many times per second your mouse, keyboard, or controller sends input data to your PC, expressed in Hertz (Hz). A 1000Hz polling rate equals 1ms response time — the competitive gaming standard. Most Bluetooth controllers run at 125Hz (8ms); switching to wired or 2.4GHz can push them to 1000Hz. Use any tool below to check your device’s actual Hz in seconds — no download required.
All-in-One Polling Rate & Performance Testing Tools
Every tool runs in your browser using high-precision JavaScript timers. Free forever, no signup, no installs.
Mouse Polling Rate Test
Check your gaming mouse Hz — verify 125, 500, 1000, 4000, or 8000Hz performance with millisecond precision.
Keyboard Polling Rate Test
Measure how fast your keyboard reports key presses. Critical for typists pushing 100+ WPM and competitive gamers.
Controller Polling Rate Test
The only browser-based gamepad Hz checker. Works with Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro & generic USB controllers.
CPS Test (Clicks Per Second)
Click speed test in 1s, 5s, 10s, 30s & 60s modes. Measure CPS, total clicks, and consistency.
Scroll Rate Test
Test your mouse wheel scroll rate. See ticks per second, smoothness, and consistency in real time.
Reaction Time Test
F1-style reflex test. Measure your reaction speed in milliseconds & compare against pro gamers.
What Is Polling Rate? Complete Guide for Mouse, Keyboard & Controller
Polling rate is the frequency, measured in Hertz (Hz), at which a peripheral device reports its current state to your computer. A 125Hz device sends an update 125 times per second. A 1000Hz device sends 1000 updates per second. The formula is simple: response time (ms) = 1000 ÷ polling rate (Hz).
Every device type has its own typical range. Gaming mice commonly reach 1000Hz to 8000Hz. Keyboards sit between 125Hz and 1000Hz depending on firmware. Controllers vary the most: a PS5 DualSense over USB can hit 1000Hz, while the same controller over Bluetooth typically runs at 250Hz to 500Hz, and most standard Xbox gamepads report at 125Hz on a default wired connection.
Polling Rate to Response Time Conversion Table
| Polling Rate | Response Time | Best Use Case | CPU Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Bluetooth controllers, casual gaming, office | Negligible |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | Wireless controllers, 2.4GHz pads | Very low |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Competitive baseline, most gaming setups | Low |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | Competitive FPS, esports, wired controllers | Low-moderate |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms | Pro-level high-refresh mouse setups | Moderate |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | Top-tier gaming mice, 240Hz+ monitors | Noticeable |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | Bleeding edge, requires modern CPU | High |
Polling Rate vs Input Lag: They Are Not the Same Thing
Polling rate and input lag are often used interchangeably, but they describe different things. Polling rate is how often your device reports its position. Input lag — sometimes called end-to-end latency — is the total delay from your physical action to the on-screen response.
The full input chain: controller firmware processing → USB or wireless transmission → OS driver handling → game engine tick → monitor display delay. Your polling rate contributes only one link in that chain. A 1000Hz controller reduces its share of latency to 1ms, but if your monitor runs at 60Hz, the display alone adds up to 16.7ms. Fix the bottleneck, not just the polling rate number.
Why Polling Rate Matters for Competitive Gaming
In CS2, Valorant, Apex Legends, and fighting games, inputs must register the moment you make them. A mouse or controller at 125Hz can introduce up to 8ms of device-side delay before the game processes the move. At 1000Hz, that drops to 1ms.
- Flick shots and micro-adjustments — land cleaner at 1000Hz because the cursor position updates more often between frames
- Frame-perfect inputs in fighting games — a stable 1000Hz controller means combo timings register on the exact frame intended
- Jitter and stability matter more than raw Hz — a stable 500Hz beats an unstable 1000Hz reading every time
- Casual and story games — 125Hz is perfectly fine and saves wireless battery life
Most competitive FPS players run at 1000Hz, not 4000Hz or 8000Hz. Diminishing returns above 1000Hz are real, and very high rates add CPU load that can hurt frame times on older hardware. Check your actual rate with the mouse polling rate test or controller polling rate test.
Controller Polling Rate Test: What to Expect From Your Gamepad
Most guides cover mouse polling rate and ignore controllers entirely. Controllers are different: the polling rate varies by connection type, and the difference between Bluetooth and wired can be 7ms — far more impactful than most in-game settings.
Controller Polling Rates by Device and Connection
| Controller | Wired USB | Bluetooth | 2.4GHz Dongle |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 DualSense | ~1000Hz | 250–500Hz | N/A (no dongle) |
| Xbox Series X/S | ~125Hz | ~125Hz | Up to 1000Hz (official adapter) |
| Nintendo Switch Pro | ~125Hz | ~125Hz | N/A |
| Steam Deck (built-in) | ~500Hz | N/A | N/A |
| 8BitDo / GameSir pro | 1000Hz | 125–250Hz | 1000Hz |
How to Run a Gamepad Polling Rate Test
- Connect your controller via USB cable or 2.4GHz dongle (Bluetooth will show lower values by design).
- Open the controller polling rate test.
- Move an analog stick steadily in smooth circles for 6 to 10 seconds.
- Read your average Hz and check jitter. If jitter sits above 30% of your average Hz, the connection is the issue, not the controller itself.
How to Increase Your Controller’s Polling Rate
- Switch from Bluetooth to wired or 2.4GHz. This single change moves most controllers from 125Hz (8ms) to 500–1000Hz (1–2ms).
- Xbox users: use the official Xbox Wireless Adapter. Standard wired and Bluetooth Xbox connections cap at 125Hz. The wireless adapter is the clean path to 1000Hz.
- PC users: try hidusbf. This free Windows tool overclocks USB HID polling up to 1000Hz for compatible wired controllers, including Xbox Series wired.
- Update controller firmware. Manufacturers ship polling and stability fixes via firmware. Check for updates in the companion app before assuming the hardware is limited.
For Xbox controllers, the connection type is everything. A wired Xbox Series controller at default settings runs at 125Hz. The same controller through the official Xbox Wireless Adapter on PC reaches 1000Hz — an 8× improvement without buying new hardware. Run the test to see where yours stands.
How Our Polling Rate Test Works
Browser-based, accurate, and fully transparent.
1. Open the Tool
Pick any test from above. Each tool loads instantly — no signup, no download, no installer.
2. Generate Input
Move your mouse rapidly in circles, hold a key, or press buttons on your controller. Tests typically need 5–10 seconds.
3. Read the Results
Get live Hz, average, peak, minimum, and stability stats. Compare against your device’s advertised spec.
4. Optimize Your Setup
If results don’t match the spec, check vendor software (Razer Synapse, Logitech G HUB, etc.) or USB port (use USB 2.0/3.0).
Compatible With Every Major Brand
Our polling rate tests work universally because they read browser input events — no vendor-specific drivers, no proprietary protocols. If your device connects via USB, USB-C, or wireless 2.4GHz dongle, our tools will measure it.
🖱 Tested Mouse Brands
Logitech, Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, Zowie, BenQ, Glorious, Finalmouse, Pulsar, Vaxee, Endgame Gear, ASUS ROG, HyperX, Roccat, Cooler Master.
⌨ Tested Keyboards
Logitech, Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, Ducky, Keychron, HyperX, ASUS ROG, Wooting, Akko, GMMK, Mountain, Cherry, Drop, Razer Huntsman.
🎮 Tested Controllers
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 DualSense, PS4, Nintendo Switch Pro, Steam Controller, 8BitDo, Razer Wolverine, generic USB gamepads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a polling rate test?
A polling rate test measures how many times per second your mouse, keyboard, or controller reports input data to your computer. The result is shown in Hertz (Hz). A 1000Hz polling rate means your device sends data 1000 times per second, equating to a 1ms response time.
What is a good polling rate for gaming?
For competitive gaming, 1000Hz is the recommended standard, providing 1ms input delay. Casual gaming works well at 500Hz (2ms). Office use is fine at 125Hz (8ms). Ultra-high rates like 4000Hz or 8000Hz offer marginal real-world benefit but increase CPU usage.
Is the polling rate test accurate in a browser?
Our browser-based polling rate test uses high-precision performance.now() timers and the getCoalescedEvents() API to capture every input. Results are typically within 5–10% of native polling rate values. For absolute precision, use vendor software like Razer Synapse or Logitech G HUB.
Do I need to download anything?
No download is required. All polling rate tests on PollingRateTestC run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No installation, no signup, no data collection, no tracking.
Does higher polling rate increase CPU usage?
Yes, but minimally. A 1000Hz polling rate produces negligible CPU load on modern systems. Going to 4000Hz or 8000Hz can noticeably increase CPU usage and may reduce FPS on older hardware, especially in CPU-bound games.
How do I test my controller polling rate online?
Connect your controller via USB or 2.4GHz dongle, open the controller polling rate test, then move an analog stick in smooth circles for 6 to 10 seconds. The tool reads the browser Gamepad API and shows your live Hz, average, and stability in real time. No download required. Works with Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, Steam Deck, and generic USB gamepads.
What polling rate does a PS5 DualSense run at?
The PS5 DualSense runs at approximately 1000Hz wired over USB to a PC, 250–500Hz over Bluetooth, and around 250Hz on the PS5 console itself. Real-world tests often record 700–1000Hz on PC depending on the USB port. Use the gamepad polling rate test to check your specific setup.
What polling rate does an Xbox controller run at?
Standard Xbox Series and Xbox One controllers report at approximately 125Hz over a wired USB or standard wireless connection. Using the official Xbox Wireless Adapter on PC can bring the rate up to 1000Hz. The free Windows tool hidusbf can also push a wired Xbox controller to 1000Hz by overclocking USB HID polling.
What is the difference between polling rate and input lag?
Polling rate is how often your device reports its position to your computer. Input lag is the total delay from physical action to on-screen response — it includes polling rate, firmware processing, USB or wireless transmission, game engine tick, and your monitor’s display delay. A 1000Hz polling rate contributes only 1ms to that chain. A fast controller paired with a slow 60Hz display can still feel sluggish because the display is the bottleneck, not the controller.
Why does my polling rate fluctuate during testing?
For mice: keep moving continuously in tight circles — devices send fewer events when still. For controllers: move the analog stick steadily and avoid sudden stops. Other causes include Bluetooth interference, a weak USB hub, Windows power-saving mode interrupting the polling cycle, and low battery (many wireless controllers quietly reduce their Hz as battery drains).
Can I test polling rate on mobile?
Mobile touchscreens report at the device’s touch report rate (typically 60–360Hz), not a traditional USB polling rate. Our mouse and keyboard tests are designed for desktop. The controller polling rate test works on mobile Chrome if a USB or Bluetooth gamepad is connected. Reaction time tests work on mobile but show slightly higher values due to touch latency.