Move the mouse quickly inside the box and the test times the gaps between reports to estimate your rate, then snaps it to the nearest common standard like 125, 500 or 1000 Hz.
What polling rate means
Polling rate is how frequently your mouse sends its position to your computer, measured in hertz. A 125 Hz mouse reports 125 times a second, or once every 8 milliseconds, while a 1000 Hz mouse reports every single millisecond. A higher rate means the on-screen cursor is updated more often, which makes fast movements feel smoother and more immediate, especially in games where a flick has to land precisely.
It is a different thing from DPI, which is about sensitivity, or how far the cursor moves per inch of hand movement. Polling rate is purely about timing: how often the mouse checks in. Most gaming mice run at 500 or 1000 Hz, older or basic mice often sit at 125 Hz, and some newer models push to 4000 Hz or beyond.
How this test measures it
The test watches the movement reports your browser receives and times the gap between them. Move the mouse fast and steadily inside the box, because the rate can only be measured while the mouse is actually sending reports; a still mouse sends nothing. The more you move, the more samples it gathers, and the more reliable the peak reading becomes.
One honest limitation: browsers do not always expose timing with full precision, and some cap or round it for privacy, so the number here is a close estimate rather than a lab-grade measurement. Reading a little under a round figure like 990 instead of a clean 1000 is normal, which is why the test also shows the nearest standard rate your result most likely corresponds to.
Using your result
If your measured rate is far below what your mouse claims, it is worth checking your mouse software or driver, where the polling rate is often adjustable. Bumping a 125 Hz setting up to 500 or 1000 Hz is one of the cheapest ways to make an older mouse feel noticeably crisper, with no new hardware required.
Polling rate is only one part of how a mouse feels. Once you know it, the mouse test confirms every button works, and the CPS test and aim trainer measure the click speed and precision that polling rate helps deliver. A high rate does not make you faster on its own, but it removes a layer of delay between your hand and the screen.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good mouse polling rate?
For gaming, 500 Hz or 1000 Hz is the common sweet spot and feels smooth to almost everyone. 125 Hz is fine for everyday use. Rates above 1000 Hz exist but bring smaller and smaller gains for most people.
Why is my measured rate a bit lower than expected?
Browsers do not always report event timing with full precision, so the reading is an estimate. A result near a standard figure, like 980 instead of 1000, almost always means your mouse is running at that standard rate.
Is polling rate the same as DPI?
No. Polling rate is how often the mouse reports, measured in hertz, while DPI is how far the cursor moves per inch of hand movement. They are independent settings that both affect how a mouse feels.
More click and reflex tests
Read the guides
How this test measures
Every number this page shows comes from one place, and the method behind it is written out rather than assumed. The click area counts a real mouse button press, the clock is the browser's monotonic performance timer, and your score is total clicks divided by the duration you picked. The exact conventions, including how the first click is treated and what the browser can and cannot measure accurately, are on the measurement methodology page.