Keyboard Polling Rate Test
Measure browser repeat Hz, median interval, repeat delay, jitter and consistency across timed runs.
Advanced timing workspace
Measure repeat speed, delay, jitter, and stability
Choose a duration, start the test, then hold one letter key without releasing it.
What this result means
Accuracy note: this measures browser-visible key-repeat timing, not raw 125 Hz, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, or 8,000 Hz USB polling. Use repeated runs on the same computer to compare settings, browsers, or connection modes.
Ready
0.0 / 5.0 s
Select Start, then hold one letter key
Keep this area focused. Modifier keys and browser shortcuts are ignored.
Waiting for a clean run
For a useful comparison, collect at least 15 valid intervals and repeat the same duration two or three times.
Repeat interval timeline
Lower and flatter timing lines are more consistent. The orange line marks the median.
No interval samples collected.
Latest intervals
Newest valid repeat intervals from the active run.
| Sample | Interval | Deviation | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start a run to populate the interval log. | |||
Run comparison
Up to five completed runs are kept only for this browser tab.
| Run | Duration | Rate | Median | Delay | Jitter | Consistency | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No completed comparisons yet. | |||||||
No typed text or key identity is saved or sent with analytics. CSV export contains timing summaries only.
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Keyboard Polling Rate Test is a free, browser-based keyboard polling rate test for browser-visible repeat timing, with median interval, initial repeat delay, MAD jitter, consistency, timed run comparison, and CSV export.
- Cost: Free, no signup
- Install: None — runs in the browser
- Privacy: Runs locally, no uploads
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Time: Under a minute
What Does This Keyboard Polling Rate Test Measure?
A keyboard polling rate is the frequency at which a keyboard reports its state to the computer. The hardware value is expressed in hertz: 125Hz corresponds to a theoretical 8ms report interval, 500Hz to 2ms, and 1000Hz to 1ms.
This online keyboard polling rate test measures a different but useful layer: the repeated keydown events delivered to the browser while one key is held. The first event starts the run, the first automatic repeat provides the initial repeat delay, and later repeat events provide the interval samples. The result therefore describes your current keyboard, operating-system repeat settings, browser, tab focus and system load together.
A normal web page does not receive every raw USB HID report. It cannot prove that firmware is running at 1000Hz, 4000Hz or 8000Hz. The tool labels its main result browser repeat rate for that reason. It is most useful for repeatable before-and-after comparisons on the same computer, not as a certification of the number printed on a keyboard box.
How to Run the Keyboard Hz Test Accurately
- Choose a duration. Five seconds is a good baseline. Use ten seconds when you want a more stable comparison.
- Select Start. The measurement area receives focus and waits for one physical key.
- Hold one letter key. Do not tap repeatedly, switch keys or use Ctrl, Alt, Shift or Command. Keep holding until the timer completes.
- Repeat three times. Compare the median interval and consistency rather than trusting a single fastest sample.
- Change only one condition. When comparing wired, 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, keep the browser, operating system, duration, USB port and background load the same.
The measurement stops if the page loses focus because background tabs can be scheduled differently. The first repeat is excluded from the interval series, so the operating system's initial repeat delay does not distort the repeat-rate calculation.
How to Read Repeat Rate, Jitter and Consistency
- Browser repeat rate: 1000 divided by the median repeat interval. It is the rate visible to the web page, not the raw USB polling frequency.
- Median interval: The middle interval after sorting all valid samples. It resists an occasional slow browser frame better than the average.
- Average interval: The arithmetic mean of every accepted interval. Compare it with the median to see whether a few slow events pulled the run upward.
- Initial repeat delay: Time from the first physical keydown to the first automatic repeat. This is mainly controlled by operating-system keyboard settings.
- Jitter (MAD): Median absolute deviation from the median interval. A smaller value means the delivered repeat timing was grouped more tightly in that run.
- Consistency: Percentage of intervals within plus or minus 10% of the median. It is a session-stability indicator, not a keyboard health grade.
- 95th percentile: A slow-tail interval that helps reveal occasional scheduling pauses hidden by the median.
Use the run-comparison table to separate repeatable behavior from a one-off spike. Copy a summary or download the CSV after testing, then record the connection mode and setting separately. No typed text or key identity is included in the export.
Keyboard Polling Rate and Theoretical Report Interval
| Advertised hardware polling | Theoretical maximum interval | Can held-key browser repeat prove it? |
|---|---|---|
| 125Hz | 8ms | No. Operating-system repeat behavior still sits between the keyboard and page. |
| 250Hz | 4ms | No. Compare the browser-visible timing only under controlled conditions. |
| 500Hz | 2ms | No. A browser repeat event is not one raw HID report. |
| 1000Hz | 1ms | No. The keyboard can poll at 1000Hz while the page sees a much lower repeat rate. |
| 4000Hz | 0.25ms | No. Normal DOM keyboard events do not expose this resolution. |
| 8000Hz | 0.125ms | No. Verify the device mode with vendor software or lower-level measurement. |
The interval formula is 1000 ÷ Hz. That calculation describes the theoretical wait between hardware reports. It does not include matrix scan time, debounce, firmware processing, wireless transport, operating-system scheduling, application processing or display latency.
Polling Rate vs Scan Rate, Repeat Rate and Input Latency
These terms describe different parts of the input chain:
- Polling rate is how often the device interface can report state to the host.
- Scan rate is how often the keyboard controller checks its switch matrix.
- Repeat rate is how quickly the operating system generates repeated characters after a key is held.
- Input latency is the total delay from physical action through firmware, transport, software, rendering and display.
Use this page for a controlled keyboard repeat timing comparison. Use the key repeat rate test when you want to adjust typing repeat speed and delay. Use the keyboard latency checker for browser-visible input-delay comparisons, and the keyboard chatter detector when one press creates two characters.
How to Verify a Keyboard's True USB Polling Mode
Start with the keyboard manufacturer's configuration software or official specification for the exact model and connection mode. Some keyboards expose separate polling settings for wired and 2.4GHz operation, while Bluetooth may use a different path. Apply the setting, save it to the device if supported, and confirm that the profile remains active after reconnecting.
When the advertised hardware figure must be proven, use a lower-level USB capture or a dedicated hardware latency setup that can observe reports before normal browser event handling. The detailed keyboard polling rate and Hz guide explains the full input chain and why a 30Hz browser repeat result can coexist with a 1000Hz keyboard setting.
For other checks, open the full keyboard tester to verify every key, the keyboard ghosting test for simultaneous-key limits, or the mouse polling rate test for pointer-event timing.
Keyboard Polling Rate Test FAQ
Is an online keyboard polling rate test accurate?
It is accurate for the browser repeat events it records, provided the tab stays focused and enough intervals are collected. It is not a raw USB polling analyzer, so treat the result as an operating-system and browser timing measurement.
Can a browser detect a 1000Hz or 8000Hz keyboard polling rate?
Normal DOM keyboard events cannot prove those hardware rates because the browser receives interpreted key events rather than every USB HID report. Confirm the selected device mode with official software or lower-level capture equipment.
Why does my keyboard polling rate test show about 30Hz?
You are probably seeing the operating system's held-key repeat rate. A keyboard can still use a much faster hardware polling mode while Windows, macOS or Linux generates repeated character events at an environment-dependent rate.
What is a good keyboard polling rate for gaming?
Many gaming keyboards use 1000Hz, which has a theoretical 1ms report interval. Higher modes can reduce that interval further, but polling is only one part of input latency and a browser repeat test cannot certify the hardware setting.
Why should I compare the median instead of the fastest interval?
The fastest value can be one unusually short event. The median describes the center of the full run and is less affected by occasional browser scheduling spikes, making it better for repeated same-system comparisons.
Does this keyboard Hz test upload my keystrokes?
No. Timing calculations and run history stay in the browser tab. The tool does not save typed text or key identity, and its CSV contains timing summaries rather than keystroke content.
