What is the best mouse polling rate for gaming?

1000 Hz is the standard across esports. Nearly every professional player runs 1000 Hz. It delivers 1 ms input delay, which keeps aim tracking tight and cursor movement instant. It runs smoothly on any modern CPU without performance issues. For most competitive players, 1000 Hz is the ideal setting — no reason to go higher unless you own a high-end system and want to experiment.

How does this polling rate test actually work?

The tool monitors how frequently your mouse sends position updates to the browser. Each update triggers a timestamp. The tool counts how many updates arrive each second and displays that count as your polling rate in Hz. Move your mouse in smooth circles for the most accurate measurement. Stopping and starting introduces gaps that lower your average reading.

Does running 8000 Hz drain my CPU?

Yes. At 1000 Hz, almost any modern CPU handles the load without breaking a sweat. At 8000 Hz, your processor must handle eight times more input events per second. On mid-tier or older systems, this extra load can cause frame drops, stuttering, or jitter — which actually hurts your performance instead of helping it. Test your system at 8000 Hz and watch your CPU usage. If it spikes above 80%, drop back to 1000 Hz.

Why do some mice offer 500 Hz and others 1000 Hz?

Mouse manufacturers design different rates for different audiences. A 500 Hz setting saves battery life on wireless mice and reduces CPU load slightly. A 1000 Hz setting delivers faster input for competitive play. Most modern gaming mice let you toggle between rates so you can pick what works best for your system and your preference. Some players genuinely prefer how 500 Hz feels — slightly smoother cursor movement compared to the tighter snap of 1000 Hz.

Can wireless mice actually reach 1000 Hz?

Yes — but only over a 2.4 GHz dongle, not Bluetooth. Logitech Lightspeed, Razer HyperSpeed, and similar wireless technologies maintain stable 1000 Hz polling rates. Bluetooth connections introduce too much overhead to sustain high polling rates reliably. If your wireless mouse includes a dongle, use it for gaming. Switch to Bluetooth only for low-demand tasks where latency does not matter.

Is 8000 Hz worth the upgrade?

For most players, no. The improvement from 1000 Hz to 8000 Hz shaves off less than 1 ms of latency. The human eye and hand cannot perceive that difference during actual gameplay. Ultra-high polling rates make sense only for benchmark testing, tech enthusiasts, or elite competitive setups running high-end hardware. Everyone else gets identical real-world performance from 1000 Hz at a fraction of the CPU cost.

What is the difference between polling rate and DPI?

Polling rate controls how often your mouse reports its position — this affects input lag and responsiveness. DPI controls how far the cursor travels per inch of physical mouse movement — this affects cursor speed and sensitivity. Both settings work independently. You can have high DPI with low polling rate, or low DPI with high polling rate. Optimize them together for the feel you want in each game.

My polling rate test shows lower than expected. Is something wrong?

Not necessarily. Browser-based tests read 10–20% lower than your actual hardware rate because browsers use JavaScript events instead of raw USB input. If your mouse is set to 1000 Hz in its software but your browser test shows 850–950 Hz, that is normal browser overhead — not a hardware problem. Compare readings between different mice using the same tool. The relative difference between them stays accurate even if the absolute number runs slightly low.

Does polling rate affect battery life on wireless mice?

Yes. Higher polling rates drain battery faster because your mouse works harder to send more frequent updates. Many wireless gaming mice include a power-saving mode that drops polling rate automatically when you are not actively gaming. Use 1000 Hz during competitive sessions and let the power-saving mode handle the rest.

Polling Rate Tester — Test Your Mouse & Keyboard Hz Online Free

Test Your Mouse & Keyboard Polling Rate Free Online

Check your polling rate tester, keyboard Hz, DPI, eDPI, and reaction time with our free online testing tools. Instant results, no downloads, no signups, just open and test.

All Your Gaming Tools in One Place

PollingRateTester gives you everything you need to optimize your gaming peripherals. Every tool runs directly in your browser with instant, accurate results.

🖱️ Mouse Polling Rate Test

Check how many times per second your mouse reports its position to your computer. Verify your mouse runs at 125 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, or higher. Test now to confirm your settings match what your software claims.

Test Mouse Polling Rate →

⌨️ Keyboard Polling Rate Test

Measure your keyboard’s report rate in real time. See whether your keyboard delivers 125 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, or 8000 Hz response speed. Essential for competitive gaming where every millisecond counts.

Test Keyboard Polling Rate →

🎯 DPI Analyzer

Find your actual mouse DPI and calculate your true sensitivity. Check if your mouse sensor is accurate, compare DPI settings, and verify your hardware matches your software configuration.

Analyze Your DPI →

🧮 eDPI Calculator

Calculate your effective DPI (eDPI) by combining your mouse DPI with your in-game sensitivity. Compare your settings against professional players in Valorant, CS2, Apex Legends, and Fortnite.

Calculate eDPI →

⚡ Reaction Time Test

Measure your reflexes with our F1-style reaction time test. Track your speed in milliseconds, compare yourself against professional gamers and F1 drivers, and train to improve your reaction speed.

Test Your Reaction Time →

🖱️ Mouse Tester

Test your mouse buttons, scroll wheel, and movement accuracy. Check for button failures, scroll issues, or tracking problems. Perfect for diagnosing hardware issues before buying a replacement.

Test your Mouse Tester →

Why Use This Free Polling Rate Tester?

Instant Results — Every tool delivers results in real time. Move your mouse, press a key, or click the test area and watch live data update instantly.
No Downloads Required — Everything runs directly in your browser. No software installations, no executable files, no security risks. Open the page and start testing immediately.
Accurate Measurements — Our tools use high-precision JavaScript timers and direct browser input events to measure your hardware performance down to the millisecond.
Completely Free — Zero paywalls, zero premium tiers, zero hidden costs. Every tool is 100% free with no signup required. Use them as many times as you need.

How the Mouse Polling Rate Test Works

1. Choose Your Tool — Pick the test you need from the list above. Each tool targets a specific aspect of your gaming setup.
2. Run the Test — Follow the simple on-screen instructions. Most tests take less than 10 seconds to complete and show results instantly.
3. Optimize Your Setup — Use the results to adjust your settings, troubleshoot problems, or verify your hardware performs as expected.

Understanding Polling Rate

Polling rate measures how many times per second your mouse or keyboard sends data to your computer. Higher polling rates deliver faster response times and smoother input.

Polling Rate	Input Delay	Best For
125 Hz	8 ms	Office work, casual browsing
500 Hz	2 ms	Casual gaming, everyday use
1000 Hz	1 ms	Competitive esports, FPS gaming
2000-8000 Hz	0.5-0.125 ms	High-end setups, extreme performance

Most competitive players run a 1000 Hz polling rate on both their mouse and keyboard. This delivers a near-instant response without overloading your CPU. Ultra-high rates like 4000 Hz or 8000 Hz offer minimal improvement but demand significantly more processing power.

Use our Mouse Polling Rate Test and Keyboard Polling Rate Test to verify your actual rates match your software settings.

Compatible With All Major Brands

PollingRateTester works with every mouse and keyboard brand on the market:

Mice: Logitech, Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, Zowie, BenQ, Glorious, Finalmouse, Pulsar, Vaxee, and more
Keyboards: Logitech, Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, Ducky, Keychron, HyperX, ASUS ROG, Wooting, and more
If your device connects via USB or wireless dongle, our tools will read it. No drivers, no brand-specific software, no compatibility issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the polling rate, and why does it matter?

Polling rate measures how frequently your mouse or keyboard reports its position or key presses to your computer. Higher polling rates reduce input delay and make your peripherals feel more responsive. Most competitive gamers use 1000 Hz for the best balance between speed and system performance.

Do I need to download anything to use these tools?

No. Every tool on PollingRateTester runs entirely inside your web browser using JavaScript. Open the page, use the tool, and close it when you are done. Nothing installs on your computer.

Are these tests accurate?

Yes. Our tools measure input events directly from your browser with millisecond precision. Browser-based tests read 10-20% lower than native applications because they process input through JavaScript events rather than raw USB data, but the relative measurements remain accurate for comparison and troubleshooting.

Can I use these tools on mobile devices?

The polling rate tests work best on desktop computers with a wired or wireless mouse and keyboard. Reaction time and DPI tests work on mobile, but touchscreen input introduces additional latency that affects accuracy. For best results, test on a desktop or laptop.

How do I improve my polling rate?

Polling rate is set in your mouse or keyboard software (Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse, etc.) or via physical buttons on your device. Check your manufacturer’s documentation for instructions. Once set, use our tests to verify the change took effect.

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Umair Aalam Sher

Owner & Creator • PollingRateTester.com | Website | + posts

PollingRateTester.com provides browser-based testing tools for measuring mouse DPI, polling rate, latency, and other device performance metrics. All tools are tested on real hardware, including USB and Bluetooth mice and high-refresh-rate monitors, to ensure accurate and repeatable results.
The website is maintained by a technical team that regularly updates tools and guides in response to browser, sensor, or firmware changes to keep measurements consistent, precise, and transparent.