Latency Test walkthrough

Input lag is more than just a number; it determines how quickly your key press becomes an action on screen. This latency tester tracks the gap between keydown and keyup in milliseconds, logging every press so you can see real-world responsiveness instead of marketing claims. Tap a key and the chart updates live, the last latency flashes, and the average adjusts to reflect the full session rather than a single lucky strike.

Begin with keys you rely on the most, like WASD, space, and primary ability binds, because small delays there are the most noticeable. Next, work through the number row and modifiers to find out if some switches are slower due to worn springs or stabilizers. The running history lets you spot spikes that appear only after several rapid inputs, which can indicate firmware debounce tuning, USB polling instability, or a fatigued switch that needs lubrication or replacement.

The chart adapts to dark mode for night testing, and you can toggle sound or visual effects depending on whether you want pure numbers or additional feedback. Since the test runs fully in your browser, you can compare results across Windows, macOS, and Linux or repeat the test after changing cables, ports, or hubs. If you are switching from wireless to wired, run back-to-back sessions to quantify the latency difference before picking a setup for ranked play.

For creators and developers, latency testing helps validate that new firmware flashes or QMK/VIA tweaks did not add delay to commonly used shortcuts. For IT teams, it is a quick acceptance test to prove that a batch of boards meets internal performance standards. Clear the data, rerun, and export screenshots of the graph if you need evidence for an RMA or a vendor negotiation.

Test on battery and while charging to see if power states affect wireless performance.
Switch polling rates on your board or OS and retest to pick the smoothest setting.
Check latency at different key angles to catch stabilizer rattle that slows return speed.
Combine results with the ghosting and CPS tests for a full view of speed, rollover, and accuracy.

Why Test Keyboard Latency?

Keyboard latency is the delay between when you press a key and when your computer registers it. KeyboardTest.me's Latency Tester provides a precise way to measure this response time in milliseconds.

For gamers, every millisecond counts. Lower latency means faster in-game reactions, potentially making the difference between victory and defeat. Competitive gamers often seek keyboards with latency below 10ms.

Programmers and writers who spend hours typing benefit from keyboards with consistent, low latency for a smoother workflow. Our tool lets you test every key individually to identify any problematic keys with higher-than-normal latency.

How To Interpret Your Results

The latency measured by our tool includes keyboard hardware processing time, USB/wireless transmission time, and browser processing time. For the most accurate comparison between keyboards, test them on the same computer with the same browser.

While individual results vary, here's a general guideline for interpreting latency measurements:

1-10ms: Excellent

Professional-grade performance suitable for competitive gaming and fast-paced applications.

11-20ms: Good

Solid performance for most gaming and typing needs with no noticeable delay.

21+ ms: Noticeable

May cause perceptible lag in fast-paced games or rapid typing scenarios.

KeyboardTest.me

Recent Key Latencies

Latency History