How the drift test works
Put your controller on a table and let go of both sticks. During 5 seconds the test records the position of each stick about 300 times through the browser’s Gamepad API. It then calculates:
- the average offset: how far from the centre the stick sits on average;
- the 95th percentile: the distance the stick reaches 95 % of the time, which ignores a single bump of the table;
- the peak: the largest movement recorded;
- the suggested deadzone: the smallest in-game deadzone that hides the drift.
Reading the verdict
| Verdict | Movement at rest | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No drift | below 0.05 | Nothing. The stick is healthy. |
| Slight drift | 0.05 to 0.10 | Usually hidden by games. Clean the stick and test again in a few weeks. |
| Drift detected | 0.10 and more | Raise the deadzone to the suggested value, then clean, repair or replace the stick module. |
These thresholds come from the deadzones games use by default, often between 0.10 and 0.20. Drift below that is real but invisible in play.
Why test at rest
Drift only matters when you are not touching the stick. Testing at rest isolates it from your own hand movement, so two runs on the same controller give the same numbers. If the verdict changes a lot between runs, the stick is unstable, which is an early sign of wear.
Limits
The test reads what your controller sends to the computer, after its own internal deadzone. Some controllers hide small drift in firmware, so a console can still show drift that this page does not. Test over USB when possible: Bluetooth adds noise on some models.
Frequently asked questions
What is stick drift?
Stick drift is when a joystick reports movement while nobody touches it. Your character walks or the camera turns on its own. It comes from wear in the stick's potentiometers, dust, or a loose spring.
How much drift is normal?
A healthy stick stays under 0.03 at rest. Between 0.05 and 0.10, most games hide it with their default deadzone. Above 0.10, the drift is usually visible in game.
Can I fix stick drift without opening the controller?
Sometimes. Rotate the stick in full circles for 30 seconds, blow compressed air around its base, and recalibrate it in the console or Windows settings. If drift comes back, the stick module needs cleaning or replacing.
What deadzone should I set in my game?
Use the suggested deadzone shown in the result. It is the smallest value that hides the measured drift, with a small margin. A larger deadzone wastes precision on small movements.
Do Hall effect sticks drift?
Hall effect sticks use magnets instead of resistive tracks, so they do not wear out the same way. They are the most reliable fix when a controller drifts again after cleaning.
Updated October 26, 2026