Keyboard Polling Rate Test.
Estimate how often your keyboard reports to your computer (125Hz – 1000Hz+) by measuring the time gaps between rapid keystroke events.
Click here, then mash as many keys as possible — roll your fingers across the keyboard quickly.
Tip: Slide your palm or roll fingers across letter keys — more distinct events per second = better accuracy.
Event Interval Distribution
gap between consecutive events (ms)Timing Stats
Standard USB Report Rates
Check these before you measure
- Go wired for accuracyWireless power-saving drops the report rate; test wired first, then compare wireless separately.
- Roll, don't holdKey-repeat comes from the OS — slide or roll your fingers to generate real, distinct events.
- Expect a browser capBrowsers limit timer precision to about 1000Hz, so higher rates may read as 1000Hz here.
How to measure your polling rate
- 1
Focus the capture box
Click the box above and get ready to type a fast burst.
- 2
Roll your fingers
Slide or roll across the letter keys quickly to generate many distinct key events.
- 3
Read the estimate
The smallest consistent gap between events reveals your report rate — mash longer for a tighter reading.
What is keyboard polling rate?
Polling rate (report rate) is how many times per second your keyboard sends its state to the computer over USB or wireless. A 125Hz keyboard reports every 8 milliseconds; a 1000Hz keyboard reports every 1 millisecond, reducing worst-case input delay by up to 7ms.
The browser timestamps every keydown/keyup event. Your keyboard can only deliver events as fast as its USB polling interval, so the gaps between distinct events hint at the report rate. But browsers deliberately round and jitter these timestamps for security, so the result is only an estimate — not a lab measurement — and it can read higher than your keyboard's real rate (see the accuracy note below).
When to use this test
New gaming keyboard
Confirm a "1000Hz" claim resolves at the report rate you paid for.
After changing a setting
Switched polling rate in the driver or with a hotkey? Verify the change actually took effect.
Wired vs wireless
Check whether your wireless mode is quietly dropping to a lower rate than the cable.
Polling rate glossary
- Polling rate / report rate
- How often the keyboard sends its state to the PC, in Hz — 1000Hz means every 1ms.
- Input latency
- The delay between a physical press and the computer acting on it; a higher report rate trims its worst case.
- Debounce
- A short firmware delay that filters switch bounce so one press isn't reported as several.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an accurate reading?
Generate as many distinct key events as possible in a short burst: roll your fingers across several letter keys, or gently slide your palm over the keyboard. Holding one key down does not work — key-repeat events come from the operating system, not the keyboard, so the tool ignores them. The estimate improves the longer you mash; aim for a few hundred events.
Does a higher polling rate matter?
For typing, no — the difference between 125Hz and 1000Hz is at most 7ms, far below human perception while typing. For competitive gaming, a 1000Hz keyboard removes a small but consistent slice of input latency, which is why most mechanical gaming keyboards report at 1000Hz by default. Rates above 1000Hz offer diminishing returns limited by your monitor and game tick rate.
Why does my 8000Hz keyboard show only 1000Hz?
Browsers deliberately reduce timer precision (typically to 0.1–1ms) to prevent timing attacks, and the OS input stack may batch events. This caps what any web-based test can resolve at roughly 1000Hz. Detecting 2000–8000Hz reliably requires native software from the keyboard manufacturer.
Can I change my keyboard's polling rate?
Many gaming keyboards let you switch rates in their configuration software (e.g., 125/250/500/1000Hz) or via a hardware key combination — check your manual. Wireless keyboards often drop to lower rates in power-saving mode, so test both wired and wireless connections. After changing the rate, press Reset Measurements above and mash again to confirm.
Is polling rate the same as a keyboard's response time or actuation?
No — they measure different things. Polling rate is how often the keyboard reports its state to the PC (every 1ms at 1000Hz). Actuation is the point in a key's travel where the press registers, and switch response time is how quickly the hardware detects it. A high polling rate can't make a slow switch feel faster; all three together shape total input latency. This tool measures only the polling rate.
A note on accuracy — why it may read too high
Browsers only expose keyboard events with coarsened, jittered timestamps — a deliberate defence against timing attacks. When two events happen to land closer together than your keyboard's real polling interval, this test reads HIGHER than reality: a genuine 1000 Hz keyboard can show 2000 Hz or even 4000 Hz here, and the number often jumps between runs. That is a limitation of the browser, not your keyboard. Treat this as a rough indicator only. For the true figure, use your keyboard's own configurator software or a dedicated OS-level polling-rate utility. Mashing a wide spread of keys and pressing Reset between attempts gives the steadiest estimate.