Controller Deadzone Calculator
A deadzone is the small area around the centre of an analog stick that the game ignores. Set it too low and a worn stick makes your character creep or your aim drift. Set it too high and small, precise movements stop registering.
This calculator measures how far your sticks move on their own when you're not touching them, then tells you the lowest deadzone that will hide that drift in the game you play. You get the most precise aim the controller can give you, without the drift.
Controller Deadzone Calculator
Measure resting stick drift for 10 seconds and test snapback to find your game's ideal deadzone.
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How to use it
- Connect your controller by USB or Bluetooth and press any button so the page detects it.
- Put the controller down on a flat surface and take your hands off both sticks.
- Press Start measuring and wait 10 seconds while the page records each stick's resting position.
- Flick each stick and let it snap back three times when asked. This catches drift that only appears after the stick has moved.
- Choose your game from the list. The calculator shows the setting name, the number to enter, and where to find it in the game's menus.
What your results mean
The calculator takes the largest offset it measured, adds a small safety margin, and rounds up to the steps your game allows.
| Measured drift | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3% | Healthy stick | Use the lowest deadzone your game allows |
| 3â8% | Normal wear | Use the number the calculator gives you |
| 8â10% | Heavy wear | The deadzone will hide it, but aim will feel less precise |
| Over 10% | Worn out | A deadzone big enough to hide this makes aiming sluggish. Consider repairing or replacing the stick. |
Where the setting lives in popular games
| Game | Setting to look for |
|---|---|
| Call of Duty / Warzone | Controller settings â Left Stick and Right Stick Min Input Deadzone |
| Fortnite | Settings â Controller â Left Stick Deadzone and Right Stick Deadzone |
| Rocket League | Settings â Controls â Controller Deadzone |
| Apex Legends | Settings â Controller â Look Deadzone (fewer options than most games) |
| Other games | Usually under Controller, Controls or Gameplay settings, called "deadzone" or "inner deadzone" |
Menu names change between game updates. If a setting has moved, search the game's settings for "deadzone". GTA 6 settings will be added once the game is out and the menus are confirmed.
Inner and outer deadzones
Most games call the setting simply "deadzone", meaning the inner deadzone around the centre of the stick. Some games also have an outer deadzone, which sets how far you need to push before the game treats it as a full push.
This calculator works out the inner deadzone, because that's the one that hides drift. If your game has an outer deadzone, keeping it at the default is a good starting point.
Why one deadzone number doesn't suit everyone
You'll find plenty of "best deadzone settings" lists online, usually copied from a professional player. The problem is that their number was right for their controller on that day. A new controller might need almost no deadzone, while one that's had a few hundred hours of play might need two or three times as much.
Using someone else's setting goes wrong in one of two ways. If their number is lower than your stick needs, your character creeps and your aim slides while you're not touching anything. If it's higher, you lose fine control for no reason: small adjustments to your aim don't register until you push further, and close-range tracking feels sticky.
Measuring your own stick removes the guesswork. The calculator gives you the smallest value that still hides your drift, so you keep as much precision as your controller allows.
How the calculation works
While the controller rests, the page reads each stick's position many times a second and records the largest distance from the centre. It then repeats this after you flick each stick, because some sticks settle back to a slightly different spot after moving. The bigger of the two readings is your drift.
A small safety margin is added on top, because drift shifts a little as a controller warms up and wears. Finally the number is converted to your game's scale. Some games use 0 to 100, some use 0 to 1, and some only offer a few fixed steps, so the result is rounded up to the nearest value your game actually lets you choose.
Getting the most accurate result
Test with the controller lying flat on a desk rather than in your hands. Even a relaxed grip can nudge the sticks slightly and make the result look worse than it is.
If you play for long sessions, test once when the controller is cold and once after half an hour of play, and use the higher result. Charge the controller first if it's wireless, because some controllers behave differently when the battery is very low. And test both sticks every time: left-stick drift moves your character, right-stick drift moves your aim, and they rarely wear at the same rate.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Test on a flat, still surface | Hold the controller while measuring |
| Repeat after a long session | Rely on a single cold test |
| Set each stick separately | Copy the same value to both sticks |
| Re-test every few months | Assume the number stays right forever |
When a deadzone isn't enough
A deadzone is a workaround, not a repair. As a stick wears, the drift grows and the deadzone has to grow with it, until aiming starts to feel slow and imprecise. If the calculator recommends a value above about 10%, that point has usually been reached.
At that stage you have three choices. Recalibrating the stick can help if the drift is a calibration problem, and our PlayStation stick calibration tool does this for official Sony controllers. Replacing the stick module fixes the wear itself. Or you can switch to a controller with Hall effect or TMR sticks, which use magnets and are far less prone to drift in the first place.
Deadzone shapes explained
Games apply deadzones in different shapes, and the shape changes how the stick feels. An axial deadzone ignores small movement on each axis separately, which can make it hard to move slightly diagonally. A radial (circular) deadzone ignores movement within a circle around the centre, which feels more even in every direction. A scaled radial deadzone does the same but rescales the rest of the stick's travel, so you don't lose any fine control just outside the deadzone.
If your game lets you choose, radial or scaled radial is usually the best choice for aiming. Axial deadzones can suit some driving and platform games where straight movement matters most.
Shape How it feels Best for
Axial Straight lines easy, small diagonals hard Some driving and 2D games
Radial Even in every direction Most games
Scaled radial Even, with smooth control just past the deadzone Aiming in shooters
Re-testing as your controller ages
Sticks wear gradually, so the deadzone that suits your controller today may not be enough in a few months. If you notice your aim or character moving on its own again, run the calculator again and update the setting.
Keeping a note of each result is a simple way to see how fast your controller is wearing. A recommended deadzone that keeps rising is a sign the stick will eventually need replacing or recalibrating.
Deadzones on console versus PC
On consoles, deadzones are set inside each game, so you'll need to enter the number in every game you play. On PC, Steam Input lets you set a deadzone for the controller itself, which then applies to every game launched through Steam.
If you use both, avoid setting a large deadzone in Steam and another in the game, because they add together and make the stick feel sluggish. Set it in one place only.
Common problems
Press a button after the page loads; browsers only show a controller after an input. Try a USB cable if Bluetooth fails.
Small changes are normal. Run the test two or three times and use the highest result.
The calculator converts automatically when you choose the game. 5% is 0.05.
Sticks often drift more once the controller is warm. Play for a while, then run the test again.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best deadzone for my controller?
The lowest value that stops your character or camera moving on its own. That depends on how worn your stick is, which is why we measure it instead of guessing.
Should the left and right stick have the same deadzone?
Not always. One stick often wears faster than the other. The calculator gives a separate number for each.
Does a lower deadzone make me aim better?
A lower deadzone lets small movements register sooner, which helps precise aiming. It only helps if the stick isn't drifting.
Will a deadzone fix stick drift?
It hides small drift. If drift is over about 10%, the deadzone has to be so large that aiming suffers, and repairing or replacing the stick is the better fix.
Is my data uploaded?
No. The measurement happens in your browser and nothing about your controller is sent anywhere.
Can I use the same deadzone in every game?
No. Each game measures deadzone on its own scale, so the same number can mean very different things. Choose each game separately and the calculator converts the value for you.
What's the difference between a deadzone and sensitivity?
Sensitivity controls how fast you turn when you push the stick. The deadzone controls how far you have to push before anything happens at all. Changing one doesn't fix the other.
Why does my drift get worse during long sessions?
Parts inside the stick expand slightly as the controller warms up, and the reading at rest can shift. That's why testing after a long session gives a safer number.
Does this work with PC controllers and third-party pads?
Yes. Any controller your browser detects can be measured, including 8BitDo, GameSir, PowerA and other PC controllers.
Should I use a circular or square deadzone?
If your game gives you a choice, circular or radial deadzones usually feel more natural for movement and aiming. The number from the calculator works for either.
Can a deadzone be too small?
Yes. If it's smaller than your stick's drift, the game will still see movement at rest.
Does the deadzone affect the outer edge of the stick?
No. That's the outer deadzone, which is a separate setting in some games.