Mouse Polling Rate Test

What is mouse polling rate?

Mouse polling rate is the number of times per second that the computer polls the mouse for information about its movement and the state of the buttons. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).

How to test your mouse polling rate?

• Prepare for the test:
  • Close unnecessary tabs and applications to reduce the load on the system.
  • Exit power saving mode.
  • Use the Chrome browser due to less throttling of mouse events.
• Move your mouse quickly in a circle or from side to side for 5-10 seconds.
• Get accurate results with an analysis of the average and maximum polling rate.

Common polling rates

Polling Frequency	Delay	Suitable for
125 Hz	8 ms	Office, budget, old mice
250 Hz	4 ms	Budget gaming, everyday use
500 Hz	2 ms	Gamers looking for a balance of price and quality
1000 Hz	1 ms	Standard for gaming mice (recommended)
2000+ Hz	<1 ms	Enthusiasts and esports players with powerful PCs

What does polling rate affect?

• Cursor Smoothness: A higher rate results in smoother and more precise tracking of the mouse's movement, especially noticeable during fast turns in games.
• Input Lag: A higher polling rate means less time between your physical movement of the mouse and that movement being reflected on the screen.

What should you choose?

• For office, studying, web browsing: Any rate is fine (125 Hz, 250 Hz).
• For gaming (any type): Definitely choose a mouse that supports 1000 Hz. This is the current standard.
• For professional esports or if you're a tech enthusiast: You can consider models with 4000 Hz or 8000 Hz support, but only if you have a powerful computer and understand that the difference may be almost imperceptible.