Test your keyboard’s input lag, scan rate, and response time
Click the button below to begin your keyboard latency test
Key Press History
Total: 0Keyboard Latency Test – Check Keyboard Input Lag, Scan Rate, and Response Time
Keyboard latency plays a crucial role in how efficiently your device responds when you press a key. The Keyboard Latency Test measures how long it takes for your key press to register on screen — revealing your keyboard’s input lag, polling rate, and scan rate in real time. Whether you’re a gamer, writer, or developer, understanding latency helps you improve both performance and typing precision.
What Is Keyboard Latency?
Keyboard latency refers to the delay between the moment you press a key and when the corresponding character appears on your monitor. This delay is measured in milliseconds (ms) and depends on several factors — including the keyboard’s polling rate, connection type, and system response time.
In simple terms:
- You press a key → signal is sent to your computer.
- The computer processes that signal → displays the result on the screen.
The total time between these two actions is your keyboard latency or input lag.
During casual typing or browsing, this lag is usually unnoticeable. However, in competitive gaming or real-time editing, even a few milliseconds can make a noticeable difference.
Example: How Keyboard Latency Works
Let’s break down a typical example:
- Key press duration: 5ms
- Signal transmission to system: 1ms (polling rate)
- System processing and screen update: 3–5ms (system latency)
✅ Total response time = roughly 9–11ms
That means your keyboard’s latency — from key press to visible action — is around 10 milliseconds.
How to Use the Online Keyboard Latency Test
Using this online keyboard latency tester is quick, accurate, and requires no downloads:
- Open the tool – Go to the Keyboard Latency Test on AllToolkit.com.
- Click “Start” – Then press any key on your physical keyboard.
- View results instantly – You’ll see data like shortest key press, average latency, scan rate, and total key presses.
- Check special keys – Test Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Spacebar, or function keys.
- Analyze your results – Identify delays, detect key drops, or compare multiple keyboards.
💡 Pro Tip: Try pressing multiple keys at once to verify anti-ghosting support, especially if you’re using a mechanical gaming keyboard.
Why Keyboard Latency Matters (Especially for Gamers)
Every millisecond counts in gaming. A keyboard with high latency means your in-game movements, attacks, or actions may register slower than your opponent’s. Even a 5-10ms delay can impact precision in FPS, MOBA, or battle royale games.
In competitive gaming, players often use low-latency mechanical keyboards with 1000Hz polling rates (or higher). These keyboards send data to the system 1000 times per second — ensuring every key press is detected instantly.
If you notice sluggish controls or missed key inputs, it’s time to test your keyboard’s response time and possibly upgrade to a faster model.
How to Test Keyboard Latency Online – Step by Step
- Click on the Start Test button at the top of this page.
- Press and release any key on your keyboard.
- Observe the real-time results showing your latency in milliseconds.
- Review polling rate, scan rate, and average delay data.
- Compare results with other keyboards or connection types.
No login. No software installation. 100% free and browser-based.
You can also check your Mouse Polling Rate Test here for a complete input performance analysis.
Features of Our Keyboard Latency Test Tool
✅ Real-Time Latency Tracking – Instantly see how fast your keyboard responds with millisecond accuracy.
✅ Polling & Scan Rate Detection – View how frequently your keyboard sends signals to your computer.
✅ Performance Benchmarking – Compare results between wired and wireless keyboards or mechanical vs membrane types.
✅ No Installation Required – Works online directly in your browser on desktop or laptop.
✅ Free Forever – Use the test unlimited times, completely free of charge.
Key Factors That Affect Keyboard Latency
1. Polling Rate
Polling rate (measured in Hertz, Hz) determines how often your keyboard reports key presses to your computer.
- A 1000Hz polling rate means the keyboard sends updates 1000 times per second.
- Some advanced gaming keyboards reach 4000Hz or even 8000Hz, offering ultra-low input lag.
👉 You can also explore our Keyboard Polling Rate Tester to measure your device’s exact rate.
2. Scan Rate
Scan rate measures how often your keyboard scans its internal circuit to detect key presses. A higher scan rate means faster key detection and fewer missed inputs.
It’s typically calculated as:
Scan Rate = Polling Rate ÷ Shortest Key Press Time
If your keyboard’s polling rate is 1000Hz and your shortest key press is 5ms, your scan rate equals 200 scans per second.
3. Response Time
Keyboard response time combines both polling and processing delays. It’s the total time from pressing a key to seeing it displayed on screen. Lower response times (below 15ms) indicate a fast, well-optimized keyboard.
You can learn more about screen response and display refresh rates in our detailed Screen Refresh Rate Test.
4. Connection Type
Latency also depends on how your keyboard connects to your computer:
- Wired keyboards generally offer the lowest latency.
- Wireless keyboards, especially with Bluetooth, may introduce slight delays.
- 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless keyboards provide near-wired performance.
- USB 3.0 ports reduce lag compared to older USB 2.0 connections.
Choosing the Right Keyboard
If your test shows high latency or inconsistent key response, consider upgrading to a low-latency mechanical keyboard with N-key rollover and anti-ghosting support.
Before purchasing, check:
- Polling rate (preferably 1000Hz+)
- Connection type (wired or 2.4GHz wireless)
- Switch type (linear or optical switches for faster response)
You can compare and review models on trusted tech sites like Tom’s Hardware or Rtings.com for verified benchmarks.
Best Use Cases for the Keyboard Latency Test
🎮 Gamers optimizing reaction times
💻 Professionals seeking faster typing response
🔧 Troubleshooting faulty or unresponsive keyboards
⌨️ Comparing mechanical vs membrane performance
🧪 Benchmarking keyboard performance for reviews or setup testing
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is this keyboard latency test accurate?
Yes. The test uses precise timestamps and browser-level timing APIs to measure latency in real time.
Q2. Can I use it on a laptop keyboard?
Absolutely. It works on both laptop and external keyboards — wired or wireless.
Q3. What’s a good keyboard latency score?
Under 15ms is considered excellent. Professional gaming keyboards often achieve under 10ms.
Q4. Can latency vary between keys?
Yes. Over time, certain keys may develop higher latency due to wear or dust buildup.
Q5. Is it safe to use this tool?
100%. Our Keyboard Latency Test runs entirely within your browser, without recording any personal data or keystrokes.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and testing your keyboard latency is essential for improving productivity, accuracy, and gaming performance. Whether you’re trying to reduce input lag, choose a better keyboard, or compare scan rates, this free tool gives you instant insights.
No downloads, no sign-ups — just real-time, accurate keyboard performance testing.
🔍 Try the Keyboard Latency Test now to see how fast your device truly responds.