Scroll Test: Check Your Mouse Wheel and Scroll Speed
How to use it: move the pointer over the box above and spin your mouse wheel as fast as you can. The big number shows how many pixels you scrolled in the last second. Stop scrolling to see your best result.
This scroll test measures how fast you turn your mouse wheel, in pixels per second (PPS). Spin the wheel over the test box and the number updates 20 times a second, showing the total scroll distance from the last one second. It doubles as a quick scroll wheel test: a healthy wheel gives a smooth, rising number, while a faulty one stalls or jumps.
This mouse scroll test needs no sign-up or download. It runs in your browser and works with a mouse wheel or a laptop touchpad. Scrolling on a phone screen is not counted, because a finger swipe does not send the wheel signal the test listens for.
How to use the scroll test
The whole test takes a few seconds. Follow these steps:
- Move your pointer over the test box. While the pointer is inside it, the page itself stops scrolling, so you can spin hard without losing your place.
- Spin the mouse wheel as fast as you can. You will see the message “Scroll as fast as you can!” swap for a live reading such as “2,400 Pixels Per Second”.
- Keep going for a second or two. The number grows (and the text gets slightly bigger) the faster you scroll.
- Stop. When no scrolling has happened for one second, the box shows your best result for the session, for example “Your best is 3,100 PPS”.
- Spin again to try to beat it. Reloading the page sets your best back to 0, because the result is not saved.
Scrolling up and scrolling down both count, so you can flick the wheel in either direction. Only vertical scrolling is measured. Tilting the wheel sideways, or swiping sideways on a touchpad, adds nothing.
What your scroll speed result means
Your result is the number of pixels your browser was asked to scroll during the most recent one second. The test does not count notches or clicks of the wheel directly. It adds up the distance in pixels that each wheel movement reports, keeps only the movements from the last 1,000 milliseconds, and shows the total.
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pixels Per Second (PPS) | Total scroll distance in the last 1 second, updated every 50 ms |
| Your best is … PPS | Highest one-second total since the page was opened |
| Back to “Scroll as fast as you can!” | No scrolling for 1 second, the reading has dropped to 0 |
Because the reading is pixels, not notches, the same hand speed can give very different numbers on different setups. A Microsoft engineer wrote in 2019 that Chromium browsers such as Chrome and Edge report a wheel step as 100 pixels (W3C www-style list, 2019). If each notch on your setup counts as 100 pixels, 25 notches in one second shows as 2,500 PPS, and 40 notches shows as 4,000 PPS.
Is there a good scroll speed?
There is no official standard for a good scroll speed, and no fair leaderboard, because one notch is worth a different number of pixels on each computer. The useful comparison is with yourself: same mouse, same browser, same settings. If your best result drops a lot over a few weeks with nothing else changed, the wheel may be wearing out or collecting dust.
What changes your scroll speed score
Several things change the pixels each notch reports, and they have nothing to do with how fast your finger moves. Check these before you compare results from a scrolling speed test or blame the mouse.
| Factor | Effect on your score |
|---|---|
| Lines per notch in Windows | More lines per notch means more pixels per notch and a higher score |
| Scroll speed slider on a Mac | Faster settings send larger scroll amounts |
| Browser | Each browser converts a notch into pixels in its own way |
| Free-spin wheel | Keeps spinning after you let go, so it can post far higher numbers |
| Touchpad momentum | Scrolling keeps coasting after your fingers lift, which adds to the total |
| Mouse software | Some drivers add scroll acceleration or smooth scrolling of their own |
Free-spin wheels deserve a special mention. Logitech says its MagSpeed wheel on the MX Master 3S is quick enough to scroll 1,000 lines per second (Logitech). A normal notched wheel turned by a finger cannot get near that, so results from free-spin and notched wheels should not be compared.
DPI, the setting that controls how far your pointer moves, does not affect wheel scrolling. If you want to check DPI, the mouse DPI analyzer is built for that.
Mouse scroll wheel test: how to check for faults
You can use this page as a free scroll wheel tester or mouse wheel tester. No special software is needed: use the box above and watch how the number behaves, not just how high it gets.
- Turn the wheel slowly, one notch at a time. The reading should rise in even steps and fall back to the start message about one second after you stop.
- Turn the wheel at a steady medium speed for a few seconds. The number should stay fairly level rather than dropping to zero and jumping back.
- Scroll outside the box on a long page and watch the page itself. If it moves up for a moment while you scroll down, the wheel is reporting steps in the wrong direction.
- Repeat with the mouse plugged into another USB port, or with fresh batteries if it is wireless.
The test adds the size of every movement whatever its direction, so a wheel that jumps backwards will not lower the number. That is why step 3, watching a real page, is the better check for jumping.
Common scroll wheel problems and what causes them
Most wheel faults come from the part that reads the wheel, called the encoder. In most mice this is an incremental mechanical rotary encoder: two metal contacts produce two signals slightly out of step, and their order tells the mouse which way you turned (Igor’s Lab). When the contacts are dirty or worn, those signals arrive unevenly and the mouse can miscount steps or report the wrong direction.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Page jumps up while you scroll down | Dirty or worn encoder contacts | Blow air around the wheel, scroll hard a few times, retest |
| Number stalls at low values | Dust in the encoder, low battery, weak wireless signal | Clean the wheel, swap batteries, move the receiver closer |
| Nothing happens at all | Wheel not detected or turned off in mouse software | Check the mouse software, try another browser and USB port |
| Scrolls far too much per notch | Lines per notch set high, or a smooth scroll setting | Lower the setting in your system or mouse app |
| Fault returns a few weeks after cleaning | Encoder wear | Contact the maker if under warranty, or replace the mouse or encoder |
If your mouse is under warranty, contact the manufacturer before opening it, because taking it apart can void the warranty.
How to change scroll speed on Windows and Mac
Scroll speed is set by your operating system, and some mice add their own setting on top. Change one thing at a time, then run the scroll speed tester again to see the difference.
On Windows 11, open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Mouse. Under Scrolling, set “Roll the mouse wheel to scroll” to “Multiple lines at a time” and move the “Lines to scroll at a time” slider (Microsoft Support). A higher number scrolls further per notch and raises your score here.
On a Mac, open System Settings, then Accessibility, then Pointer Control. Click Mouse Options or Trackpad Options and move the “Scroll speed” slider (Apple Support). The Mouse pane’s tracking speed controls the pointer, not scrolling.
A faster setting is not always better. Many people prefer fewer lines per notch for reading and editing, and a faster setting only for long documents or spreadsheets.
What this scroll tester cannot measure
The tool reads the scroll distance your browser receives, so a few things are outside what it can see:
- Middle click: pressing the wheel down is a button, not a scroll. Use the mouse test to check every button.
- Horizontal tilt: sideways scrolling is ignored by this test.
- Touch screens: swiping a phone or tablet screen does not count.
- Hardware notch count: the test sees pixels, not the raw signal from the mouse, so it cannot tell how many notches your wheel has per turn.
- Report rate: how often the mouse sends updates to the computer is a different measurement. The polling rate test checks that.
Scroll wheel speed and gaming
In games the wheel is mostly a button for switching weapons or items, so a reliable wheel matters more than raw speed. Some players also bind an action to the scroll wheel because spinning it can send inputs faster than clicking. Many games and servers treat that kind of binding as unfair, so check the rules before you use it.
If you want to measure clicking speed instead, try the CPS test or the clicks per minute test. The what is a good CPS guide explains what those numbers mean. For a full health check of your mouse, pair this test with the double click test, which catches a worn left button.
Related tools
- Mouse test: check left, right and middle buttons.
- Double click test: find a mouse that double clicks on its own.
- Right click test: measure right-button speed.
- Polling rate test: see how often your mouse reports in Hz.
- Mouse DPI analyzer: measure the real DPI of your sensor.
- Click counter: a simple online tally counter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my mouse scroll wheel?
To test your mouse wheel, move your pointer over the box at the top of this page and spin the wheel. A working wheel gives a smooth reading that rises with your speed and falls back about one second after you stop. To check for jumping, also scroll a long page and watch for moments where it moves the wrong way.
What does PPS mean in a scroll test?
PPS stands for pixels per second. It is the total distance your browser was asked to scroll during the last one second. It depends on your scroll settings and browser as well as your finger speed.
Why is my scroll speed so low?
Your system may scroll only one line per notch, your browser may report small steps, or the wheel itself may be dirty or failing. Check the lines per notch setting in Windows or the scroll speed slider on a Mac first. If the number still stalls during steady scrolling, clean the wheel and test again.
Why does my scroll wheel jump up when I scroll down?
This usually means the encoder that reads the wheel is dirty or worn, so it now and then reports a step in the wrong direction. Blowing air around the wheel and scrolling hard a few times often helps for a while. If the problem keeps returning, the encoder or the mouse needs replacing.
Does DPI affect scrolling?
No. DPI sets how far the pointer moves when you move the mouse. Wheel scrolling is controlled by your operating system’s scroll settings, your browser and your mouse software.
Can I do a scroll test on a laptop touchpad?
Yes. A two-finger scroll on a touchpad sends the same kind of scroll signal as a wheel, so the test counts it. Touchpads often keep scrolling after your fingers lift, so results are usually higher than with a notched wheel and are not a fair comparison.
Does the scroll test work on a phone?
Not really. Swiping on a touch screen does not send wheel events, so the reading stays at 0. Use a computer with a mouse or touchpad for this test.