Mouse Polling Rate Test
How to use it: move your mouse in fast circles inside the box and keep it moving for at least five seconds. The four boxes show your current reading, your average, your highest reading and the standard polling rate your mouse is most likely set to.
This polling rate test measures how many position reports your mouse sends to the computer each second, shown in hertz (Hz). Move the mouse in fast circles inside the box for a few seconds and the test shows your live rate, your average, your maximum and the nearest standard rate, such as 125, 500 or 1000 Hz.
This online mouse rate checker is free and runs in your browser. You do not install anything, there is no sign-up, and nothing you do in the box is saved or sent anywhere.
How to check your mouse polling rate
To check mouse polling rate here, you only need the mouse and a few seconds of movement:
- Put the cursor inside the dark box. It is the measuring area; the border lights up green while the mouse is moving.
- Move the mouse quickly and without stopping. Wide, fast circles work best.
- Keep going for at least five seconds. For the first two seconds the box says “Keep moving in fast circles…”, then it tells you the rate your mouse is most likely set to.
- Read the four boxes at the top: Now (Hz), Average, Max and Likely rate.
- Press Reset to clear everything and measure again, for example after you change a setting in your mouse software.
If you stop moving, the reading drops to 0 and the box says “Paused”. Your numbers stay on screen, and the test carries on when you move again.
What the four numbers mean
The test takes a reading four times a second. Each reading counts the position updates that arrived in the last quarter of a second and multiplies that count by four, so it is shown per second. Here is what each box tells you:
| Box | What it shows | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Now (Hz) | The latest quarter second reading | Watch it jump around as you move; it is not your result |
| Average | The mean of your most recent readings (up to the last 200, about 50 seconds of movement) | A fair summary of what your browser received |
| Max | The highest single reading so far | Shows what your mouse can reach when you move fast and smoothly |
| Likely rate | The standard rate closest to your typical high readings | The best answer to “what is my mouse set to?” |
The Likely rate compares your readings with the standard settings mice use: 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz. It ignores your slowest moments (when you change direction, the mouse sends fewer reports) and the odd freak spike, and picks the standard rate nearest to your strong, steady readings. So if your Average says 941 and your Likely rate says 1000 Hz, your mouse is set to 1000 Hz and everything is fine.
The bar chart along the bottom shows your last 20 seconds of readings, one bar per quarter second. A flat row of tall bars means steady reporting. Bars that keep dropping in the middle of fast movement point to a problem worth checking (see the troubleshooting list below).
Common mouse polling rates
A polling rate is the number of times per second the mouse reports to the computer, so the time between reports is simply 1000 divided by the rate. Logitech gives the same figures: 125 Hz means an update every 8 ms, and 1000 Hz means one every millisecond.
| Polling rate | Time between reports | Where you usually see it |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Basic office mice |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | Older or budget mice |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Many mid-range and older gaming mice |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | The usual setting on gaming mice |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms | Newer high-end gaming mice |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | High-end gaming mice |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | The fastest gaming mice on sale |
For a fuller explanation of input delay, smoothness and the downsides of very high rates, read Mouse Polling Rate Explained.
How this mouse Hz tester measures your rate
Like every browser polling rate tester, this one counts mouse position events that your browser hands to the page. How close that comes to the real hardware rate depends on the browser, and the line under the test tells you which method is in use:
- “Method: raw pointer events” appears in Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers, and in recent Firefox versions. These browsers support the pointerrawupdate event, which passes along each update as it arrives. Support started in Chrome 77, Edge 79 and Opera 64, and Firefox has full support from version 148, according to Can I use. This is the most accurate mode.
- “Method: coalesced pointer events” appears in browsers without that event, which includes Safari. Browsers normally merge several mouse updates into one event to save work, and MDN explains that this costs accuracy with fast, large movements. Where the browser offers the merged updates separately, the test counts each one; where it does not, readings can come out well below your real rate.
Touchscreens and touchpad taps do not count. If you touch the box with a finger or pen, the test shows “Mouse needed”, because polling rate is a mouse setting and only mouse movement is measured.
Why your polling rate reads lower than expected
A browser test can tell you what your browser received, not read the setting stored inside the mouse. A result a little under your setting is normal. If it reads far lower, go through these causes in order:
- You slowed down or stopped. Most mice only send reports while they move, so pauses and slow drags pull the average down. Keep the circles fast and continuous.
- Your browser uses the coalesced method. Try Chrome, Edge or a current Firefox and check that the method line says raw pointer events.
- Wireless power saving. Logitech notes that its G mice change their polling rate on the fly to save battery, so browser tests can show lower numbers. Plug in the cable or switch off power saving in the mouse software, then test again.
- Weak wireless signal. Move the receiver closer to the mouse, ideally with a short extension cable on the desk.
- USB hubs and front panel ports. Plug the mouse or receiver straight into a port on the computer.
- A busy computer. Close games, video and heavy browser tabs while you test, as they can delay events.
- Very high settings. At 4000 or 8000 Hz many browsers cannot keep up, so the test may read lower than dedicated desktop tools.
If the Likely rate matches the setting in your mouse software, your mouse is working as it should.
Is a higher polling rate better?
Up to a point, yes. What does a higher polling rate do? It shortens the wait between reports: going from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz cuts the gap between reports from 8 ms to 1 ms, which makes the cursor and in-game camera feel noticeably smoother. Above 1000 Hz the saving is less than a millisecond, and the cost rises: Logitech says high rates add USB traffic and processor load that can cause minor frame rate drops in some games, and they drain wireless batteries faster.
So what’s a good polling rate for a mouse? For browsing and office work any rate is fine, and Logitech says 250 Hz or below is enough for most users. For gaming, including shooters such as Valorant, 1000 Hz is the standard choice. Higher rates are worth trying if you play on a high refresh rate monitor and your games stay smooth; if you see stutter, drop back to 1000 Hz.
How to change your mouse polling rate
You cannot change mouse polling rate in Windows 11 settings, because Windows has no option for it. The polling rate lives in the mouse itself, so you change it in the manufacturer’s software (for example Logi Options+ or G HUB for Logitech, or the app that came with your mouse). Some mice also have a small button on the underside that cycles through rates. Basic office mice usually have one fixed rate and no software.
After changing it, come back here, press Reset and run the test again to confirm the new rate took effect.
Polling rate is not DPI or click speed
These settings get mixed up all the time. Polling rate is how often the mouse reports. DPI is how far the cursor moves for each inch you move the mouse, and you can measure it with the Mouse DPI Analyzer. To compare sensitivity across games, use the eDPI calculator or the mouse sensitivity converter.
Polling rate also has almost nothing to do with clicks per second. Even 125 Hz sends a report every 8 ms, much faster than anyone can click, so your score in the CPS test depends on your fingers. If you suspect a faulty mouse rather than a slow one, check every button with the mouse button tester, see whether one click registers as two with the double click test, and check the wheel with the scroll test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my mouse polling rate without software?
Use a browser test like this mouse polling rate tester. Move the mouse in fast circles inside the box for at least five seconds and read the Likely rate box, which shows the nearest standard rate. For best accuracy, use Chrome, Edge or a current version of Firefox.
What should my mouse polling rate be?
For everyday use any rate works, and 125 to 250 Hz is plenty. For gaming, 1000 Hz is the long-standing standard. Rates of 2000 Hz and above can feel slightly smoother on very high refresh rate monitors, but they use more processor time and battery.
Why does my result change each time?
Each reading of your mouse poll rate depends on how fast and how steadily you move, so the Now box always jumps around. The Average and especially the Likely rate are far more stable. Move the same way for a few seconds each time and they should agree between runs.
Can this test check keyboard Hz?
No. This test only measures mouse movement, and a keyboard does not send movement at all. To find a keyboard’s polling rate, check its specifications or the manufacturer’s software.
Is this the same as testing my monitor’s Hz?
No. Monitor refresh rate is how many images your screen shows per second, while mouse polling rate is how often the mouse reports to the computer. The two are separate, although a high refresh rate monitor is where a higher polling rate is most noticeable.
Does polling rate matter for a USB or wireless mouse?
Both report the same way. The USB polling rate of a wired mouse and the rate of a wireless receiver can both be set to the usual rates if the mouse supports it. Wireless mice may lower their rate to save battery, which is the most common reason a wireless mouse reads low in this test.
Is it safe to raise my polling rate?
Yes. It does not damage the mouse or the computer. The only side effects are higher processor load, possible stutter in some games and shorter battery life on wireless mice, and you can undo all of them by lowering the rate again.