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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How accurate is this online test?
It is highly accurate, depending on your browser and system stability. For best results, use a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Opera) and close other programs.
- The test shows a lower value than advertised (e.g., 500 instead of 1000). Why?
Common reasons include:
- Mouse not set to 1000 Hz in its software.
- Connected through a USB hub or bad port. Use a direct motherboard USB 2.0/3.0 port.
- Power-saving mode on for a wireless mouse.
- High CPU usage or system load.
- Which browser API is used to accurately determine the polling rate?
PointerEvent with .getCoalescedEvents().