No controller — press any button · Leave the sticks untouched while measuring.
Left Stick
Raw input vs output after deadzoneRight Stick
Raw input vs output after deadzoneUnderstanding Stick Deadzones
Find the smallest deadzone that hides drift without wasting range.
Inner and Outer
The inner deadzone hides noise at rest; the outer one makes full tilt reach 1.00 sooner.
Raw vs Output
Two plots per stick show what the hardware reports and what a game would actually use.
Rest-Noise Advice
A four-second rest test measures noise and sets a safe inner deadzone for you.
How to Find Your Ideal Deadzone
- 1
Connect the controller and press a button.
- 2
Put it down and click Measure rest noise. The tester records the largest resting value for each stick.
- 3
The inner deadzone slider moves to a safe value just above that noise.
- 4
Move each stick very slowly from the centre. The output should start moving soon after the raw value does.
- 5
If full tilt does not reach 1.00 on the output, lower the outer deadzone until it does.
Inner vs Outer Deadzones
The inner deadzone is a circle around centre where input is ignored. It hides drift and noise, but too much makes aiming feel sluggish.
The outer deadzone sets how far you must push to reach full output. Worn sticks often stop at 0.95, so a lower outer value restores full speed.
Radial vs Axial Shapes
A radial deadzone is round. It treats every direction the same, so diagonals stay smooth and most shooters use it.
An axial deadzone works on each axis separately and forms a cross. It makes straight lines easier, but small diagonal moves can snap to an axis.
Our output plot rescales the remaining travel, so a value just outside the deadzone starts near 0 instead of jumping.
How Deadzones Affect Aim
A large inner deadzone means small stick movements are ignored, so fine aim adjustments feel sticky. Players often describe this as a "jump" when input finally starts.
Scaled output, as shown in the right-hand plots, fixes the jump by mapping the remaining travel smoothly from 0 to 1. Most modern games scale their deadzones this way.
Typical Deadzone Starting Points
Start here, then adjust using your own rest-noise result.
| Situation | Inner deadzone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New, healthy controller | 3–6% | Lowest values give the finest aim. |
| Average used controller | 6–10% | Most games default to about this range. |
| Mild drift | 10–15% | Expect slightly slower small movements. |
| Strong drift | Above 15% | Consider replacing the stick instead. |
Where to Set Your Deadzone
Once you know the right value, apply it where your game reads the controller.
In the game
Many PC and console games have a deadzone slider in the controller settings. It is the most precise option.
Steam Input
Open the controller layout, pick a stick and set the deadzone and its shape in the advanced settings.
DS4Windows
Each profile has separate inner and outer deadzones for both sticks, plus anti-deadzone options.
Console settings
PS5 and Xbox have no global stick deadzone, so rely on the game or on a replacement stick if drift is large.
Frequently Asked Questions
What deadzone should I use?
Use the smallest value that keeps the output at 0.000 when the stick is untouched. For healthy sticks that is often 5–10%.
Radial or axial?
Radial deadzones keep diagonal movement smooth and suit most games. Axial ones snap to straight lines, which some racing games prefer.
What is an outer deadzone?
It treats tilt beyond a set point as full input. It helps worn sticks that no longer reach 1.00.
Does this change my controller?
No. It only previews the maths. Set the values in your game, Steam Input or DS4Windows.
Is a 0% deadzone better?
Only if your sticks are perfect. Almost every analog stick has some noise, so a small deadzone stops jitter.
Why does my game still drift with a deadzone?
The deadzone may be smaller than the drift, or Steam Input may be applying its own. Measure here and match the value.
What is an anti-deadzone?
Some games add their own deadzone. An anti-deadzone pushes your output past it, so set it to the game's value only.
Should both sticks use the same deadzone?
Not necessarily. Sticks wear differently, so set each one from its own rest-noise measurement.
Related guides
More tools you might need
Stick Drift Test
Find out if your controller has stick drift.
Open tool →Circularity Test
Rotate your sticks to measure circularity error, outer range and quadrant accuracy.
Open tool →Polling Rate Test
Measure your controller's polling rate in Hz with interval statistics and a live graph.
Open tool →Input Latency Test
Measure how quickly your browser detects controller presses and test your reaction time with a five-round button challenge.
Open tool →