What is mouse polling rate?
Polling rate is how many times per second your mouse sends its position and button state to the computer. It is measured in hertz (Hz).
At 125 Hz the computer hears from the mouse every 8 ms. At 1000 Hz it hears every 1 ms, and new 4000 Hz and 8000 Hz gaming mice report every 0.25 or 0.125 ms. A higher rate means smoother cursor movement and slightly less input delay – most noticeable on high refresh rate monitors.
| Polling rate | Report every | Typical mice |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8 ms | Office and budget mice, many Bluetooth mice |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms | Older gaming mice, some wireless modes |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms | Entry gaming mice, battery-saving modes |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms | Standard for gaming mice (wired and 2.4 GHz wireless) |
| 2000–8000 Hz | 0.5–0.125 ms | Recent esports mice (Razer HyperPolling, Logitech, Pulsar, etc.) |
How this polling rate test works
Every time your mouse reports a movement, the browser receives a pointer event with a precise timestamp. Browsers normally merge several reports into one event per screen frame, but Chrome, Edge and Opera keep the merged reports available (getCoalescedEvents). The test counts those individual reports over the last 0.4 seconds and converts them into reports per second.
- Current / Average / Peak – the live reading, the average while moving, and the highest reading seen.
- Detected rate – your peak rounded to the nearest standard setting (125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 or 8000 Hz).
- Report interval – time between reports; 1.00 ms is exactly 1000 Hz.
- Jitter – how uneven the gaps between reports are. Lower is steadier. Wireless mice and busy USB hubs usually show more jitter.
Why is my reading lower than the box says?
- You moved too slowly. Mice only report when something changes. Move in fast, continuous circles.
- Browser limits. Firefox and Safari may cap readings at your monitor's refresh rate. Use Chrome or Edge.
- Power saving. Many wireless mice drop to 125–500 Hz on battery-saving profiles or Bluetooth. Use the 2.4 GHz receiver and a performance profile.
- Mouse software. Check the polling rate setting in G HUB, Synapse, SteelSeries GG, etc.
- USB port or hub. 4000–8000 Hz needs a direct port on the motherboard, and a fast CPU; front-panel ports and hubs can drop reports.
Is a higher polling rate always better?
For gaming, 1000 Hz is the sweet spot for most people. Rates above that bring smaller gains and use noticeably more CPU, which can cause stutter in some games on older PCs. For office work 125 Hz is perfectly fine and saves battery on wireless mice.
Want to check the buttons too? Try the mouse click test or measure your speed with the CPS test.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1000 Hz polling rate good?
Yes. 1000 Hz (a report every millisecond) is the standard for gaming mice and more than enough for almost everyone.
Why does the reading jump around?
Readings depend on how fast and how evenly you move. Mice only send reports when they detect movement, so pauses and slow moves lower the number. Look at the peak value for the true rate.
Can I test polling rate on a Mac?
Yes, in Chrome or Edge on macOS. Safari may limit readings to the display refresh rate.
Does polling rate affect DPI or sensitivity?
No. DPI controls how far the cursor moves per inch of mouse movement; polling rate controls how often that position is sent. They are independent.
How do I change my mouse polling rate?
Open your mouse manufacturer's software and look for “polling rate” or “report rate”. Some mice also have a button on the underside to cycle between rates.