What is polling rate?
Polling rate is how often your mouse reports its position to the computer, measured in hertz (Hz). A 1000 Hz mouse reports once every millisecond; a 125 Hz mouse once every 8 milliseconds. Higher rates mean the cursor and your in-game view update in finer steps and with slightly less delay.
| Rate | Time between reports |
|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms |
How to get an accurate reading
- Move the mouse fast and continuously, for example in large circles. Many sensors send fewer reports when movement is slow.
- Use a Chromium-based browser such as Chrome or Edge. They expose the raw pointer samples this test needs.
- For rates above 1000 Hz, press Enable Raw Input Mode. It bypasses the operating system's cursor processing, which often caps readings.
- Plug a wired mouse straight into the computer rather than through a hub, and close heavy tabs and apps while you test.
Is a higher polling rate always better?
Not always. Going from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz is a clear improvement; beyond that the gains are smaller and use more processor time. 4000 and 8000 Hz need capable hardware and benefit mostly fast, high-refresh gaming setups. Bluetooth connections often report at a lower or less steady rate than a wired or 2.4 GHz connection.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the test show 60 or 144 Hz?
Some browsers only deliver mouse events once per screen refresh. If your reading matches your display's refresh rate, the page shows a low-confidence warning because you are measuring your screen, not your mouse. Try Chrome or Edge and Raw Input Mode.
Is this as accurate as a desktop tool?
It is an estimate from inside a browser. It reflects how often your system delivers position updates to the page, which can be lower than your mouse's setting if the browser, operating system or USB hub caps it. For a definitive check, change the rate in your mouse software and confirm the reading follows.
Why is my peak lower than my mouse's setting?
Slow movement, a busy computer, Bluetooth, a USB hub or the browser can all lower the reading. Move faster and in circles, and try Raw Input Mode.
How this test works
We collect the timestamp of every raw pointer sample the browser exposes (via coalesced events) in a rolling half-second window and compute Hz = (samples − 1) ÷ elapsed time. Counting samples, rather than averaging gaps, stays accurate even when the browser rounds timestamps. Raw Input Mode uses Pointer Lock with unadjusted movement (Chromium browsers) to bypass operating-system cursor processing. We also measure your display's refresh rate and warn when a reading looks like that instead of your mouse. The peak shown is the highest reading currently on the chart.