UtilibyWritten by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 31, 2026 · Browser behaviour reviewed October 2026
What this free mouse polling rate test does
Gaming mice advertise polling rates of 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz or even 8000 Hz, but is your mouse really sending that many reports? This mouse polling rate test checks it. Move the mouse quickly over the pad and the tool collects the time of every position report your browser receives, groups them into quarter-second windows, and works out how many reports your mouse sends each second. It then snaps the result to the nearest standard rate, such as 125, 500 or 1000 Hz.
You see the estimated rate, the time between reports in milliseconds, the peak and median rates while you were moving, and a live chart of the rate over time. You can copy the results, download them as a CSV file or print a summary. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
How to use the test
- Use a Chromium browser such as Chrome, Edge or Brave. They expose the raw mouse reports that the test needs.
- Plug the mouse into a direct USB port. Hubs and extension cables can reduce the rate.
- Move the mouse fast over the pad, drawing big circles for 5 to 10 seconds. Slow movement sends fewer reports, so the rate reads low.
- Read the estimate. The result settles after a few seconds of fast, steady movement.
- Compare with your setting. Change the polling rate in your mouse software, press Reset, and test again.
What polling rate means
Polling rate is how many times per second a mouse reports its movement and button state to the computer, measured in hertz (Hz). A mouse at 125 Hz reports every 8 milliseconds, and a mouse at 1000 Hz reports every millisecond. Between reports the cursor does not know about any new movement, so a higher rate means smaller delays and smoother cursor motion, especially at high speed. Wired USB mice normally report at 1 ms intervals at most under USB full speed, while newer USB high-speed designs can go to 125 microseconds, which is 8000 Hz.
Polling rates and report intervals
| Polling rate | Time between reports | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Classic office mice and many Bluetooth mice |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | Mid-range mice |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Gaming mice, a power-saving mode |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | The common gaming standard |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5 ms | High-end gaming mice |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25 ms | New high-rate gaming mice |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms | Top-end gaming mice with compatible ports |
To turn a polling rate into a report interval, divide 1000 by the rate in hertz. A 500 Hz mouse gives 1000 / 500 = 2 ms between reports, and a 4000 Hz mouse gives 0.25 ms. To go the other way, divide 1000 by the interval in milliseconds. These are the maximum rates. A mouse reports only while it has movement or a button change to report, which is why the test asks you to move quickly and steadily.
Which polling rate do you need
For office work and browsing, 125 Hz to 500 Hz is enough. For gaming, 1000 Hz is the usual standard and removes most of the delay. Higher rates such as 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz can make fast flicks feel smoother on a high refresh rate monitor, but the gain is small for most people and they use more CPU, so a weak computer may stutter. If your mouse does not reach the rate you set, the cause is usually the port, the connection or the way you move, not the mouse itself.
How the browser measures it
Browsers usually send one pointer event per display frame, and they merge, or coalesce, the raw mouse reports from that frame into it. The browser can hand back those merged raw reports with the getCoalescedEvents method, each with its own timestamp. This test reads those timestamps, so it can count the real reports even on a 60 Hz screen. If your browser does not provide them, it can only see one event per frame, and the test warns you that the result is close to your screen refresh rate instead of the mouse rate.
Why your result may be lower
- Slow movement. A mouse sends a report only when it has something to report, so slow, small moves give a low count.
- Browser limit. Firefox and Safari may only show one event per frame.
- Bluetooth or wireless mode. Many Bluetooth mice report at lower rates than the same mouse on a cable or dongle.
- USB hubs or front ports. Hubs share bandwidth and may add delays.
- Power saving. Some mice drop to a lower rate on battery or when idle.
- Software setting. The rate may be set lower in the mouse software or onboard profile.
How to change your polling rate
Windows does not set polling rate. It is set in the mouse itself, using the software from the maker, a button on the mouse that cycles through rates or an onboard profile. Open that software, pick the rate you want, save it to the mouse if the software offers that, and test again here. If the software does not list a rate, your mouse probably has a fixed one. Some mice reduce the rate when the battery is low or when a power-saving mode is on.
Accuracy and privacy
This is an estimate. Operating systems and browsers may group, delay or smooth input in ways that change the count, and the result depends on how fast and evenly you move. The test uses the 90th percentile of the quarter-second windows, so a short slow stretch does not drag it down. The tool does not upload your movement and stores nothing. It cannot see mouse movement outside the test pad. For an exact figure, use the testing tool from your mouse maker.
Related free tools
Use these free tools together with this one:
- Check your clicks with the Mouse Double Click Test.
- Check your scrolling with the Scroll Wheel Test.
- Match your aim across games with the Mouse Sensitivity Converter.
- Browse every free device test in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is mouse polling rate?
Polling rate is how many times per second a mouse reports its position and buttons to the computer, measured in hertz. At 1000 Hz the mouse reports every millisecond, and at 125 Hz every 8 milliseconds.
How do I test my mouse polling rate?
Open the test in Chrome or Edge, move the mouse fast over the pad in big circles for 5 to 10 seconds and read the estimate. Use a wired mouse on a direct USB port for the clearest result.
What is a good mouse polling rate?
For gaming, 1000 Hz is the usual standard. For office use, 125 Hz to 500 Hz is enough. Higher rates such as 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz help only on fast, high refresh rate setups and use more CPU.
Why does my result show less than my mouse is rated for?
Slow movement, a USB hub, Bluetooth mode, power saving or a lower setting in the mouse software can all reduce the count. Move faster, use a direct port and check the mouse software.
Why does the test show about my screen refresh rate?
Some browsers only show one pointer event per display frame, so the test can only see the refresh rate of your screen. Use Chrome, Edge or Brave to see the real mouse reports.
Which browser should I use?
Use a Chromium browser such as Chrome, Edge or Brave. They provide the coalesced pointer events that carry the raw mouse reports. Firefox and Safari may not, and the test then shows a warning.
How fast should I move the mouse?
Draw large, fast circles, like a quick scribble across the whole pad, for 5 to 10 seconds. A mouse only sends reports while it moves, so slow movement gives a lower reading.
Is a higher polling rate always better?
No. Going from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz is a clear gain for gaming. Going above 1000 Hz helps only a little for most people, needs a compatible port and system, and raises CPU use.
What are the standard polling rates?
The common rates are 125, 250, 500 and 1000 Hz. Newer gaming mice add 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz. The test snaps your result to the nearest one when it is within about 20%.
How do I change my mouse polling rate?
Use the mouse maker software, a button on the mouse that switches rates, or an onboard profile. Windows has no setting for it. Save the change to the mouse if the software allows, then test again.
Does polling rate affect input lag?
Yes, a little. The cursor can only update when a report arrives, so a lower rate adds up to one interval of delay: up to 8 ms at 125 Hz and up to 1 ms at 1000 Hz.
Does DPI change polling rate?
No. DPI sets how far the cursor moves for a given distance, while polling rate sets how often the mouse reports. They are separate settings, though a high DPI at a low rate can feel jumpy.
Do wireless mice have a lower polling rate?
Many do, especially over Bluetooth, which often runs at lower rates than a cable or a 2.4 GHz dongle. Gaming wireless mice with a dongle can match wired rates. Check your model.
Is this test as accurate as the software from the maker?
No. It is an estimate made through the browser. It is good for checking whether your mouse is near its rated rate, but a maker tool reads the setting directly.
Why do results change from run to run?
The count depends on how fast and evenly you move, on other programs running and on the browser. Repeat the test with the same fast circles and use the peak and median values.
Can a USB hub or port change the rate?
Yes. Hubs, extension cables and shared ports can add delays or lower the rate. Plug the mouse directly into a port on the computer, ideally on the back of a desktop.
Does the test work with a touchpad or touch screen?
No. It only counts events reported as a mouse pointer. Touchpad and touch events are ignored, so use a real mouse.
Does this test upload my mouse movement?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you move is sent anywhere, and the data is cleared when you press Reset or close the page.
What does a moving window mean in the results?
The tool splits your movement into quarter-second windows and counts the reports in each. Windows that include a pause are skipped so that stops do not pull the rate down.
Sources and further reading
- MDN Web Docs, PointerEvent: getCoalescedEvents() method.
- W3C, Pointer Events Level 3.
- Wikipedia, USB human interface device class.
- Wikipedia, Polling (computer science).
- Wikipedia, Computer mouse.
Sources reviewed in October 2026. Browser behaviour and hardware vary, so treat results as a practical check, not a laboratory measurement.