Check your mouse polling rate in real time. Move your mouse inside the test area and watch the live Hz value update instantly. No downloads, no software, no signup, just open and test.
Polling Rate Test
Click start, then move your mouse. We estimate polling rate (Hz) from movement events and show stability.
Tip: Run ~10–15 seconds for stable results. Press Space/Enter to start/stop.
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What Is Mouse Polling Rate?
Mouse polling rate tells you how many times per second your mouse sends its position data to your computer. Manufacturers measure this number in Hertz (Hz).
A mouse set to 1000 Hz reports its position 1,000 times every second. A mouse set to 125 Hz reports only 125 times. That difference directly affects how smooth and responsive your cursor feels on screen.
Mouse software labels this setting differently depending on the brand. Logitech G HUB calls it “Report Rate.” Razer Synapse uses the same term. If you search for “mouse Hz test” or “polling rate checker,” this is exactly what those tools measure.
How Polling Rate Affects Your Latency
Every polling rate creates a specific delay between your hand movement and what your screen shows:
| Polling Rate | Input Delay | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Office work, web browsing |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | Casual gaming, light creative work |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Competitive MOBA, RTS, mid-tier FPS |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | Esports FPS — Valorant, CS2, Apex Legends |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms | High-end competitive setups |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | Ultra-responsive enthusiast rigs |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | Maximum performance, high-end CPU required |
The jump from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz cuts your input delay by 7 ms. In a fast-paced game like Valorant, that 7 ms gap is the difference between your crosshair landing where you aimed and showing up one frame late. At 8000 Hz, the delay drops to near-zero, but your CPU must handle the extra load. If your system cannot keep up, you will see jitter instead of smoother input.
How to Use This Mouse Polling Rate Tester
- Click inside the test area to start the measurement.
- Move your mouse quickly and steadily — circular or side-to-side patterns give the most accurate reading.
- Watch the live Hz value and graph update in real time as your mouse reports data.
- Stop the test when you have enough data to review your average and peak results.
- Click Reset if you want to run the test again from scratch.
Move your mouse smoothly and keep it moving. Stopping and starting creates gaps in the data and lowers your average reading.
How the Tool Works
The tester listens for movement events from your mouse inside the browser. Each time your mouse reports its position, the tool timestamps that event. It then calculates how many reports arrive per second and displays that number as your polling rate in Hz.
One important note about browser-based testing: Web browsers cannot access raw USB input directly. They rely on JavaScript mouse events instead, which adds a small processing delay. Browser tests typically read 10–20% lower than your actual hardware polling rate. This tool still gives you an accurate relative reading. If your mouse switches from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz, you will see that jump clearly. For absolute precision, compare your browser result against your mouse manufacturer’s software.
What Do Consistency and Jitter Mean?
Two numbers matter beyond your basic Hz reading:
Consistency measures how steady your mouse’s report rate stays over time. A gaming mouse with strong consistency holds above 90%. If your consistency drops below that, something is interfering with a USB hub, a faulty cable, or a struggling CPU.
Jitter refers to the variation between each polling interval. A mouse with low jitter delivers smooth, predictable cursor movement. A mouse with high jitter makes your crosshair shake or stutter even when your hand stays perfectly still. Good gaming mice keep their jitter under 10 ms of standard deviation. Poor mice show 30 ms or more.
Run the test for at least 5 seconds to get a meaningful consistency reading. Short bursts will not show you the full picture.
Mouse Polling Rate vs. DPI — What Is the Difference?
These two settings control completely different things, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes gamers make.
Polling rate controls how frequently your mouse reports movement. Higher Hz means faster updates and less input lag.
DPI (dots per inch) controls how far your cursor moves per inch of physical mouse movement. Higher DPI moves the cursor farther with less hand movement.
eDPI combines both into one number: DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity. Two players with the same eDPI feel the same cursor speed regardless of their individual DPI and sensitivity settings.
You need to optimize all three together. A mouse with perfect 1000 Hz polling but a chaotic DPI setting will still feel inconsistent. Balance matters.
125 Hz vs. 1000 Hz vs. 8000 Hz — Which One Do You Actually Need?
125 Hz to 1000 Hz — This upgrade makes a real, noticeable difference. You cut the input delay from 8 ms down to 1 ms. Your cursor stops feeling sluggish. Every competitive gamer makes this switch immediately.
1000 Hz to 8000 Hz — This jump delivers only 0.875 ms of additional improvement. Most players cannot perceive that difference in real gameplay. However, 8000 Hz does demand significantly more CPU processing power. On a mid-tier system, pushing 8000 Hz can actually cause performance drops that hurt you more than the tiny latency gain helps.
How to Change Your Mouse Polling Rate
Method 1 — Physical button on your mouse: Many gaming mice have a small button on the bottom. Press it to cycle through available polling rates. Some mice include a small indicator light or a label showing which rate is currently active.
Method 2 — Manufacturer software: Open your mouse’s companion app and look for a polling rate or report rate setting.
- Logitech → G HUB → select your mouse → Performance tab
- Razer → Synapse → select your mouse → Performance tab
- Corsair → iCUE → select your mouse → Performance tab
- SteelSeries → GG Engine → select your mouse → Performance tab
- Zowie / BenQ → No software needed. Use the physical button on the mouse.
Method 3 — Check if your mouse even supports it: Budget office mice lock at 125 Hz with no way to change it. If your mouse has no buttons and no software option, 125 Hz is your only rate. An upgrade to a gaming mouse is the only path forward.
Wireless vs. Wired Polling Rate — Does It Matter?
- Wired mice deliver the most stable polling rate. A direct USB connection keeps your rate consistent and your latency predictable.
- Wireless mice using a 2.4 GHz dongle can absolutely reach 1000 Hz. Brands like Logitech Lightspeed and Razer HyperSpeed maintaina stable 1000 Hz over their wireless dongles. The latency stays competitive with wired mice.
- Wireless mice using Bluetooth typically max out at 125–250 Hz. Bluetooth introduces additional processing overhead that makes higher polling rates unstable or impossible. If you need 1000 Hz, use the dongle, not Bluetooth.
- USB port requirements for ultra-high rates: Standard USB 2.0 ports handle up to 1000 Hz without any issues. If you want to run 4000 Hz or 8000 Hz, you need a USB 3.0 port or a dedicated high-polling-rate USB port. Some gaming motherboards include these specifically for this purpose.
Why Mouse Polling Rate Matters Beyond Gaming
Polling rate is not just a gaming stat. It affects every task where precise cursor control matters.
Graphic designers dragging selection tools need smooth, lag-free pointer movement. Video editors scrubbing through timelines lose accuracy when the cursor updates sluggishly. Developers working across multiple monitors benefit from consistent cursor reporting as they switch between screens.
Even basic productivity improves with a stable 500 Hz or 1000 Hz mouse. The difference is subtle for everyday tasks, but once you feel smooth cursor movement, going back to 125 Hz feels noticeably choppy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best mouse polling rate for gaming?
1000 Hz is the standard across esports. Nearly every professional player runs at 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 a low polling rate, or low DPI witha 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 the polling rate automatically when you are not actively gaming. Use 1000 Hz during competitive sessions and let the power-saving mode handle the rest.
Why Use PollingRateTester.com?
- Instant results, no waiting, no loading screens
- Works entirely inside your browser, no downloads or installs
- Compatible with every mouse brand: Logitech, Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, Zowie, BenQ, and more
- Built for gamers, designers, and everyday users alike
- Also, test your keyboard polling rate, mouse DPI, and reaction time all on one platform
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.