Mouse DPI explained

What is mouse DPI?

DPI stands for dots per inch. For a mouse it means how many movement counts the sensor reports for each inch it travels, which is why some makers call it CPI (counts per inch). The two terms mean the same thing.

At 800 DPI, moving the mouse one inch sends 800 counts. With no extra scaling, that moves the cursor about 800 pixels. At 1600 DPI, the same inch moves it twice as far. Higher DPI doesn't mean a better or more accurate mouse; it only changes how far the cursor goes for a given hand movement.

Counts sent per inch of movement at 800 DPI

800

Counts per centimetre at 800 DPI (800 ÷ 2.54)

315

Cursor distance at 1600 DPI vs 800 DPI

2×

How to check your mouse DPI

The number on the box or in the mouse software is the setting, not always what the sensor delivers. The mouse DPI test measures it from the raw movement counts.

1. Open the mouse DPI test on a computer, with your mouse plugged in.
2. Lay a ruler on your desk and set the distance you'll move, in inches or centimetres. Longer is more accurate: 4 inches or 10 cm is better than 1 inch.
3. Line the mouse up with the start mark and click Start run. The page locks the pointer so it can count movement.
4. Move the mouse exactly the set distance in a straight line, then click or press Space to finish. Escape cancels a run.
5. Repeat three to five times. Read the Average and the Nearest setting.

In Chrome and Edge the test asks for raw input, which skips your operating system's pointer speed and acceleration. In other browsers it uses standard pointer lock and says so on screen, and acceleration may then affect the result.

Why your result doesn't match exactly

A few percent either way is normal. Over 2 inches, a 1 mm overshoot is already about 2%. Sensors also rarely hit their rated DPI exactly. Average several runs over a longer distance and use the Nearest setting as your answer. If the average is far off, such as half or double what you set, the mouse is probably on a different DPI stage than you think. Many mice have a DPI button that cycles through stages.

DPI vs sensitivity vs polling rate

These three settings are often mixed up, but they control different things:

• DPI is set on the mouse. It decides how many counts the sensor sends per inch.
• Sensitivity is set in Windows, macOS or the game. It multiplies those counts into cursor or camera movement. Games usually ignore the desktop pointer speed and apply their own.
• Polling rate is how often the mouse sends its reports, such as 125, 500 or 1000 times a second. It changes how smooth and responsive movement is, not how far the cursor goes. Check yours with the polling rate test.

Because DPI and sensitivity multiply together, many combinations give the same feel. 400 DPI at sensitivity 2 moves the same as 800 DPI at sensitivity 1.

What is eDPI?

eDPI, or effective DPI, is your mouse DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity. It's a single number for how sensitive your aim really is. 800 DPI at 0.5 sensitivity is 400 eDPI, the same as 400 DPI at 1.0.

eDPI only compares within one game, because each game scales sensitivity differently. To compare across games, players use cm/360: how many centimetres of mouse movement it takes to turn a full circle. It depends on the game's yaw, the angle it turns for each count at sensitivity 1. Source engine games use 0.022 degrees by default and Overwatch uses 0.0066.

What is the best DPI for gaming?

There's no single best value. Common practice among players is:

• 400, 800 or 1600 DPI are the most widely used settings in shooters, with in-game sensitivity adjusted to taste.
• Lower overall sensitivity (low eDPI) suits games where precise long-range aim matters, at the cost of bigger arm movements.
• Higher sensitivity suits fast-turning games and small desks.
• On a high-resolution desktop, such as 1440p or 4K, many people raise DPI so the cursor crosses the screen without needing a high Windows pointer speed.

Very high DPI settings can add jitter or smoothing on some sensors, which is one reason many players stay in the 400 to 1600 range. Whatever you choose, keep it the same for weeks so your muscle memory can settle. Our guide on how to improve your aim covers how to pick a sensitivity and practise with it.

Should you turn off Enhance pointer precision?

Enhance pointer precision is Windows' name for mouse acceleration. It makes the cursor go further when you move the mouse quickly, so the same hand movement doesn't always end in the same place. That helps some people with office work but works against muscle memory in games.

• Windows 11: Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, Mouse, Additional mouse settings, Pointer Options tab, and untick Enhance pointer precision.
• Windows 10: Settings, then Devices, Mouse, Additional mouse options, Pointer Options tab, and untick it there.

Many games read raw input and bypass it anyway, but turning it off keeps the desktop and games consistent. It also matters for the DPI test in browsers that can't request raw input.

Next, check the rest of your mouse

A correct DPI won't help if a button is failing. Click every button in the mouse test to find dead buttons or a chattering switch, and confirm your polling rate in the polling rate test. Then see how your setting performs in the aim trainer, and run the mouse DPI test again whenever you change mice or software.