Keyboard Polling Rate Test Online
Tap Space rapidly to estimate your keyboard's report rate: 125, 250, 500, or 1000 Hz. Verify whether your gaming keyboard delivers its advertised polling cadence in the browser.
How it works: a keyboard with a 125 Hz polling rate reports key changes on an 8 ms grid, a 1000 Hz board on a ~1 ms grid. This tool measures the grid in your keydown timestamps and maps it to the closest standard rate.
Browser estimate, not lab gear. The OS and browser can merge or delay events, and some boards only hit their advertised rate for the first few milliseconds of a key press. The measurement tops out at 1000 Hz: a 4000 or 8000 Hz board will report as 1000 Hz here, since its finer report grid still aligns to 1 ms.
What the polling rate test tells you
What it measures
Polling rate is how often the keyboard sends its state to the computer, in Hz. 1000 Hz means one report per millisecond. This tool estimates your board's actual rate from the timing of your key presses.
What it reveals
A low rate explains input lag you can feel: 125 Hz adds up to 8 ms per report, 500 and 1000 Hz boards report far sooner. It also shows whether a gaming board really delivers its advertised rate, which often only holds for part of a press.
Who should test
Gamers checking whether their board delivers its advertised polling rate, and anyone diagnosing whether input delay comes from keyboard report cadence or display lag.
How to run a polling rate check
- Start the testClick "Start tapping", then place one finger on Space (or any key).
- Tap the same key ~25 timesTap as fast and evenly as you can. A tight burst of keydown timestamps is what reveals the board's report grid.
- Read the estimated rateThe tool maps the measured grid to the closest standard rate: 125, 250, 500 or 1000 Hz. Retest once or twice for a stable reading.
Polling rate FAQ
Check the real rate: 125, 250, 500 or 1000 Hz, and what each means for you.
What polling rate should my keyboard have?
For everyday typing, 125-250 Hz is fine. For fast-paced games, aim for 500-1000 Hz. The "best polling rate for keyboard" is the highest your board reliably delivers. Some boards only reach their top rate for the first moments of a press.
Is 1000 Hz really better for gaming?
At 1000 Hz a key press is delivered up to 7 ms earlier than at 125 Hz. That's one to two frames at 144 Hz. Measurable, but small next to display latency and your own reaction time.
Why does my wireless keyboard show a low rate?
Many wireless boards poll at 125 Hz to save battery. Some gaming wireless boards (2.4 GHz dongle) still reach 1000 Hz, while Bluetooth usually caps much lower.
Is this a perfect hardware measurement?
No. Browser timing can be affected by OS scheduling, other devices, and how the browser batches events. Treat the result as an estimate. Use the main keyboard test for dead keys, and this page for a quick report-rate check.